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The Mastering of Mexico 



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THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

HEW YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS 
ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN & CO., Limited 

LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd. 

TORONTO 




Bernal Diaz del Castillo, upon whose eye-witness accounts in 
his " Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de la Nueva-Espana," or 
"True History of the Conquest of New Spain," this book is in 
great measure founded. He was born in Spain in the year 1492, 
and died in Cniatcmala about 1581. 



" ^ The ~ 

Mastering of Mexico 



Told after one of the Conquistadores 
and various of his Interpreters 



By 

Kate Stephens 

Author of "The Greek Spirit," "Workfellows 
in Social Progression," etc. 



•Ntm fork 

The Macmillan Company 

1916 

All rights reserved 



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■J)t'6'6 



Copyright 1916 

By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

Set up and electrotyped. Published, March, 1916 



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You, sirs, tell the truth when you say that even the most 
renowned generals of Rome have not done such great deeds 
as ours. Histories telling of these events will say, God 
willing, greater things of us than of what has happened be- 
fore; and that we were in worshipful service to God and our 
country, and were guided by true justice and Christian feel- 
ing- 

— Cortez addressing his comrades 

during the war in Tlaxcala. 

Besides the great mercies which the Almighty granted us 

in all we did, it seems His blessing was upon the arm of us 

soldiers and the good counsel we gave Cortes — how to do 

all things in the right way. 

— Bernal Diaz del Castillo. 



FOREWORD 

An incomparable picture-story told long ago how 
a few hundred Spaniards subdued a militarized coun- 
try and its tens of thousands of warriors mustered 
against them. After going up from a sea-board to 
a capital city — this time to the splendid, Aztec city 
of Mexico — another Xenophon wrote another 
Anabasis. It is a wonderful tale, and no one can 
say why, before this book, it has not belonged, in 
part at least, to a public as avid as the American for 
straightforward stories of pluck, pertinacity, fore- 
sight and a final dazzling success. 

Seventy years or so ago Prescott said the story 
was one of the two pillars on which history of the 
Conquest mainly rested. The fastidious scholar 
wondered at what the Conquistador called his own 
" plain and rude " tale, where " truth supplies the 
place of art and eloquence," and although he found 
Diaz' matchless narrative " vulgar " in several 
phases, he confessed it would be read and re-read 
by scholar and school-boy while compositions of 
phrase-polishers slept undisturbed on their shelves. 

To us of to-day Bernal Diaz del Castillo is not 
" vulgar." Profounder sentiments strengthen our 



viii Foreword 

vision. To our thinking Diaz' work is that of a 
writer of notable stature — of a spirit as sincere as 
his body was enduring, who, fifty years after he had 
had no mean part in one of the greatest expeditions 
known to mankind, himself wrote with astounding 
vizualizing power of what he and his comrades did 
and suffered. His story is that of a man of ardent 
piety and of a sense of justice and endeavor after 
right, according to the standards of his generation, 
that add significance to every sentence — the chron- 
icle of a veteran soldier of sturdy, single-hearted 
faith in himself and his comrades and his Captain 
Cortes, a human of simple tastes and a heart with 
a brotherhood for the cannibal Aztec. 

Like certain other noteworthy writings the narra- 
tive of Bernal Diaz del Castillo had an unusual his- 
tory. Before publication in its original Spanish the 
manuscript copy sent to Spain is said to have suffered 
the solicitude of a friar of the Order of Mercy, who 
garbled facts, suppressed parts, interpolated others, 
changed names and took privileges editors have un- 
fortunately been known to take. This Padre 
Remon's version, first published in 1632, was the one 
various translators, as our earlier English, the 
French, German and others, used in turning the 
story into their mother tongues. Within the last 
quarter of a century, however, the True History — 
that of the old Conquistador himself, preserved in 



Foreword ix 

the archives of Guatemala where he finally settled 
after the Conquest — the True History has had the 
excellent fortune of an edition brought out in Mexico 
through the initiation, and under the direction, of 
Sefior Don Genaro Garcia; and of translation into 
English by the Honorable Professor of Archaeology 
of the National Museum of Mexico and publication 
by The Hakluyt Society. 

Besides Bernal Diaz of Castile scores of writers, 
such as Acosta, Cortes, Solis, Herrera, have 
prompted to this retelling of Diaz' tale of the great 
city's capture. And also such as " T, N." (Thomas 
Nicholas) and his black letter, " The Pleasant His- 
torie of the Conquest of the Weast India now called 
New Spayne," " out of the Spanish " of Gomara, 
1578; certain narrators in " Purchas, his Pilgrim"; 
Maurice Keatinge in his translation of " The True 
History of the Conquest of Mexico," 1800; and 
others; but chiefest, and originally affording the foun- 
dation of our narrative, John Graham Lockhart in 
his " Memoirs of the Conquistador, Bernal Diaz del 
Castillo," 1844. Without the sincere, admirable 
work of these Englishmen this book would not have 
been. But their age-scented, and sometimes cum- 
brous, volumes not infrequently stand idle in our 
libraries. This book is for everyday use, offered 
with full knowledge that the veteran Spaniard wished 
nothing taken from his work because all he said was 



X Foreword 

true. To Bernal Diaz del Castillo, however, days 
and weeks were as hours to us. For to-day's reader, 
to save his precious and pleasing story, we have to 
elide certain parts. 

In the past we have often been told that the Con- 
quest of Mexico was a most glorious exploit, due 
wholly to an absolutist, a poser of quasi omniscient 
intellect and callous emotion, a leader driving sub- 
ordinated soldiers. The following pages show, 
rather, a human Cortes — able, untiringly active in 
mind and body, gently intimate and comrade-like of 
heart, subtle in speech, but ardent, imaginative and 
ambitious enough to grasp opportunities and mould 
them to his own advantage. These pages prove, 
also, by constant reference to " our Captain " and his 
seeking and accepting counsel from his company of 
soldiers, that the Conquest was a democratic, com- 
munity affair, each soldier of fortune present by his 
own choice and with vote and speech indicating his 
personal, independent wish in general matters; that 
the little band of self-respecting, adventurous Span- 
iards who set out to conquer the Aztec empire were 
self-reliant, " common soldiers," each of a dozen or 
so having money enough in pocket to buy himself 
that noble aider to the Conquest, a horse, but all 
seemingly served by a substantially founded educa- 
tion, and gifted with the ability to do their own think- 



Foreword xi 

ing in practical affairs of life; that from these facts 
the expedition had its success. 

To Mr. Alfred Percival Maudslay of Morney 
Cross, Hereford, England, for permission to quote 
from his beautiful translation, " The True History 
of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del 
Castillo," and to Mr. Thomas A. Joyce of the De- 
partment of Ethnography of the British Museum for 
his generously allowing full use of his " Mexican 
Archaeology," our thanks are due. 

New York, 191 6. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I How we discovered Yucatan i 

II How the Governor of Cuba ordered another 

fleet sent out, and what happened . . . i5 

III How Diego Velasquez petitioned the king of 
Spain to grant him commission to conquer, 
settle and apportion land; and we came 
again with a new fleet with Cortes as cap- 
tain 34 



/ 



IV How we found the Spaniard, Aguilar, slave to 

a cacique ; and what happened at Tabasco . 47 

V Of reaching San Juan de Ulua, and what 

Montezuma did for and against us . . .66 

VI How suspicion and dissent arose; how we 
chose Cortes captain general and chief jus- 
tice, and founded Villa Rica de la Vera 
Cruz » • • • 75 

VII Our varying fortunes with the Totonacs of 
Cempoala and Quiahuitztlan ; and of our 
letters to his majesty the king of Spain . . 86 

VIII How, having settled to go to Mexico, we de- 
stroyed all our ships and marched across 
the mountains; and how after fierce battles 
we came to peace with the people of 
Tlaxcala 104 

IX Telling how kind the Tlaxcalans were, and 
what happened to us afterwards at Cholula ; 
and also in what an adventure the clever 
Donna Marina found herself .... 125 



Contents 

CHAPTER PAGE 

X What happened to us as we neared the great 
and splendid City of Mexico; and how we 
made our bold and daring entrance, and 
Montezuma met us in solemn state and 
visited with Cortes 140 

XI How the great Montezuma looked, how he 
dined, his arsenals, his craftsmen and crafts- 
women, his gardens, aviary, beasts of prey; 
how we viewed the great market place and 
what else we saw when we ascended the 
chief temple 155 

XII How, in setting up an altar, we found a 
secret treasure; and why we visited Monte- 
zuma and took him to our quarters as pris- 
oner ; how he spent his time ; and how we 
built two sloops and sailed them on the 
lake; adding the story of a hawk . . .172 

XIII How Montezuma visited the chief temple; his 

nephew, Cacamatzin, conspired against him; 
and finally how the caciques swore allegiance 
to our king. What the Spaniards whom 
Cortes sent out to find gold, reported. 
Montezuma's gift of the vast treasure of 
his fathers and its division among us . .189 

XIV How we set an altar on the chief temple, and 

the anger of the Mexican gods and people 
at our act; and of the fleet Velasquez sent 
out from Cuba, what Montezuma did about 
it; and our plan to go against Narvaez . . 207 

XV What Cortes said to a so-called notary; how 
he addressed us at Cempoala and we rallied 
to his call; our victory over Narvaez and 
his forces, and the surrender of mates and 
masters of the fleet; how the sm.allpox 
reached New Spain 222 



Contents 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XVI How rebellion against Alvarado broke out, 
and we marched back and re-entered the 
great city; how Cortes felt and what he 
said, and how the Mexicans warred fiercely 
against us several days; and how the 
mighty Montezuma died 237 

XVII How we retreated from Mexico ; our night of 
sorrows; the days following the sorrowful 
night; our punitive expeditions, and how 
various towns begged Cortes to stop Mexi- 
can violence; why we laughed at Olid's 
expedition and how arrival of ships increased 
our forces .251 

XVIII How Cortes used the ships, and ordered Mar- 
tin Lopez to model thirteen sloops for the 
lake of Mexico ; what happened as our army 
marched to Texcoco and Sandoval went to 
fetch timber of the sloops; of the great 
thirst we endured; our march about the 
lake, and the plot to stab Cortes . . . 269 

XIX How Cortes ordered the towns to furnish us 
arrows and arrow-heads, and, before begin- 
ning the siege of Mexico, held a muster and 
published articles of war; and how having 
divided our troops, he ordered the three 
divisions to invest the city and break the 
aqueduct of Chapultepec; how the sloops 
aided in our daily battles and difficulties 
they met 291 

XX Why Cortes suffered defeat on the narrow 
causeway and many other disasters came; 
and of the abominable barbarities of the 
Mexicans in sacrificing sixty soldiers they 
had taken; and how Cortes again ofiFered 
peace, and what the papas advised . . . 304 



Contents 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXI How our conquest went on and we finally 
captured Guatemoc; and what famine did 
for the people of Mexico ; Cortes' orders 
to repair Chapultepec water-pipes and re- 
build houses; discontent about the treasure 
and its division ; and why we went to settle 
in other provinces 320 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Bernal Diaz del Castillo Frontispiece ^ 



FACING 
PAGE 



Hernando Cortes 38 >^ 

Donna Marina 64 K" 

Ancient Temple of New Spain .98 ^^ 

The Great Montezuma 146 »^ 

Terra Cotta Figure of a Warrior 158 

Pedro de Alvarado . 218 ^ 

Gonzalo de Sandoval 2i8 

Christobal de Olid 264 



THE MASTERING OF MEXICO 

CHAPTER I 

How we discovered Yucatan 

When we, who were at Nombre de Dios in the 
province of Tierra-firme,* learned that the island of 
Cuba had just been conquered, and Diego Velasquez 
appointed governor there, some of us gentlemen and 
soldiers, all persons of quality, met together and 
asked of Pedro Arias de Avila, governor of Tierra- 
firme, permission to go to Cuba. He readily gave 
us leave, since his son-in-law, Balboa, had so far sub- 
dued the people and successfully administered the 
colony that Avila himself found no employment for 
so many men as he had brought from Spain. 

We forthwith embarked in a good ship and with 
fair weather landed in Cuba, where we went at once 
to pay our respects to the governor, Diego Velas- 

* Tierra-firme extended along the north coast of South America 
from Cape Vela westward to Darien, and northward to Cape 
Gracias-a-Dios in Honduras. 

The spelling of names in this book, and statements of numbers, 
are for the most part taken from " The True History of the 
Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo," translated 
into English by Alfred Percival Maudslay. 

I 



2 The Mastering of Mexico 

quez. He received us kindly and promised us the 
first Indians available. For months we waited and 
idled with this promise in mind. But finally one 
hundred and ten of us, those who had come to Cuba 
together, and also others, sought to gain employment 
fitting for ourselves, and so we met and chose for 
our captain, Francisco Hernandez de Cordova, a rich 
man and one owning numbers of Indians in Cuba. 
He was to lead us on voyages of discovery. 

To this purpose we bought two ships of good size. 
The third was a bark, a gift of Diego Velasquez — 
if we would go to the Guanajes Islands off the coast 
of Honduras, make war on the people there, and 
bring him three cargoes of Indians to pay him for 
his bark. We knew, however, that what Diego 
Velasquez asked of us was an act of injustice, and 
gave answer that neither the law of God nor of the 
king bid us to turn free people into slaves. When 
he learned our will, he confessed that our plan to go 
for the discovery of new countries was more praise- 
worthy, and he helped us find provision for the voy- 
age. 

We now had three ships and a supply of bread, 
called cassava, made from the yucca root. We also 
bought some pigs, which cost us three dollars apiece; 
for at that time there were neither cows nor sheep in 
Cuba. Then we had also a scant supply of other 
provisions, while every soldier took some green glass 



We Discover Yucatan 3 

beads for bartering. We hired three pilots and 
some sailors, and supplied ourselves, all at our own 
cost and risk, with ropes and anchors, casks for wa- 
ter, and other needs. 

That we might not want for anything right and 
useful, by fair words and promises we persuaded 
a priest to join us, and also a treasurer appointed In 
the name of the king, so that, if we should discover 
new lands where gold, silver, and pearls were to be 
had, there might be among us a person to take charge 
of our king's fifth.* 

After we had met together, the one hundred and 
ten of us, and when everything had been properly 
ordered, we commended ourselves to God, and set 
out on our voyage from a harbor on the north 
coast of Cuba, on the 8th day of February, In the 
year 1517.1 

For a twelve days' sail we hovered near the coast, 
but afterwards we doubled Cape San Antonio and 
made for the open sea, steering toward the setting 
sun, wholly ignorant of the depth and currents of the 
water. We knew nothing, moreover, of what winds 
might prevail, until a terrible storm came down upon 

*The young grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella, Charles, was 
now king of Spain. In the many and significant years in which 
he served, he was known as Don Carlos I of Spain, and Emperor 
Carlos v. 

t At the opening of our story the energy of Europe had already 
sought out the coast of America from the bay of Honduras to the 



4 The Mastering of Mexico 

us and blew two days and nights. The sea lashed 
us boisterously, and every moment we expected ship- 
wreck. But finally the wind ceased, and twenty-one 
days after we had left harbor in Cuba we came in 
sight of land. Every heart, filled with gratitude to- 
wards God, rejoiced greatly. 

It was a new country to us, no report of it had 
ever reached our ears, and the morning of the 5th 
of March Indians came toward us in ten large canoes 
as swift as their paddles and sails could bring them. 
Many of the canoes, large enough to hold forty or 
fifty Indians, were hollowed out of the trunks of trees 
like our kneading troughs. 

As the canoes approached we made signs of friend- 
ship to the Indians, beckoning them to come on with 
our hands and waving our cloaks; for no one among 
us could speak the language of Yucatan. Without 
showing the least fear they did paddle alongside, and 
more than thirty clambered aboard our main ship. 
They were dressed in cotton jackets, or cuirasses, 
and small aprons which hung from their hips half 

Rio de la Plata. Sebastian Cabot had followed the northern 

coast from Labrador to Florida. Balboa had 

" with eagle eyes 
Stared at the Pacific — and all his men 
Looked at each other with a wild surmise — 
Silent upon a peak in Darien." 

Spaniards had formed settlements in Cuba. But the circuitous, 

sweeping Gulf of Mexico had successfully withdrawn its riches. 

How they were soon to be bared by these adventurous men, this 

book tells. 



We Discover Yucatan 




We Discover Yucatan 7 

way down to their knees. To each we gave a string 
of green glass beads, and also bacon and cassava 
bread to eat, and after they had minutely examined 
our vessel the chief told us by signs that he would 
now return to his canoe, but would bring more 
canoes the next day and take us ashore. 

Early next day twelve canoes did come to us. 
By every suggestion of friendliness the chief signified 
to our captain that we should go ashore, and should 
come to his town, where he would give us plenty of 
whatever we wanted to eat. The town, we could see, 
was a sizable place about six miles inland, and when 
our captain consulted us about this friendly invita- 
tion, we resolved to lower our boats, take with us 
our smallest ship, and so proceed in company with 
the twelve canoes. 

In this manner we came safely to shore, but when 
the cacique saw us landed, and showing no intention 
of going to his town, he again signed to our captain 
for us to follow him, making at the same time dem- 
onstrations of good-will. A second time we con- 
sulted whether we should follow or not, and most of 
us were of the opinion that we should, but should 
take every precaution. 

In close order, with our arms ready for action, 
we began our march, the cacique coming on with 
crowds of Indians who had trooped down to the 
shore. But suddenly the chief raised his voice and 



8 The Mastering of Mexico 

called out. No sooner had he signaled than bands 
of warriors rushed with terrible fury from ambush, 
and after letting fly a shower of arrows, attacked us 
man for man. They felt the sharp edge of our 
swords, however, and saw what destruction our cross- 
bows and matchlocks made, and they speedily gave 
way, but not before fifteen lay dead on the field. 
Their weapons were lances, bows and arrows, shields 
and slings, and they were clad in cuirasses of padded 
cotton. Each had a tuft of feathers on his head. 

A little distance ahead of the place of their onset 
stood three stone houses, in which we found clay 
Idols, rather large and of horrible shape, some with 
demons' faces, and others with women's. We also 
found small idols In wooden chests, and necklaces 
and trinkets in the form of fish and ducks worked out 
In gold of low grade. When we saw all this gold, 
and the temples of masonry, we were overjoyed that 
we had come upon so rich a country. 

After the combat was over, and our priest had 
carried the chests and small idols and gold to our 
ships, we dressed the wounds of our men and again 
set sail. Two of the natives we took prisoners and 
carried with us, and later they became Christians and 
were baptized with the names Melchlor and Julian. 

Continuing our course westward, we met many 
promontories, reefs and shallows, and therefore pro- 
ceeded with caution, sailing only by day and lying to 



We Discover Yucatan 9 

at night. After fourteen days we came upon an- 
other town the Indians call Campeche, and here there 
seemed to us to be an inner harbor fed by some 
stream from which we might take fresh water. Of 
water we stood in need. Our fleet had been manned 
by poor men, who had not money enough to buy 
watertight casks, and our supply of water was fast 
lessening. 

When we had now brought our casks on shore, and 
had filled them, and were about to go back in our 
small boats, fifty Indians, or so, came up to us. They 
wore good mantles of cotton cloth, and asked us 
by friendly signs what our business was. We told 
them to take on water and then to embark. They 
signified that we should go with them to their 
town. 

About accepting their invitation we held a con- 
sultation, but at length we all agreed to go and to 
keep well on the watch during our visit. They took 
us to some buildings of stone and lime, large and 
well put together, like those we had seen a fortnight 
before. When we had entered we saw they were 
temples, and that figures of serpents and evil-looking 
gods covered the walls; and that some of the idols 
bore symbols like crosses. At all this — the tem- 
ples of good appearance, the crosses — we were 
greatly astonished. But we also saw spots of fresh 
blood about an altar, and it seemed as though they 



10 The Mastering of Mexico 

had just been sacrificing to their gods, perhaps to 
gain power to overcome us. 

Many Indian women now came up to us with 
smiles, and while we were looking on, other natives 
clad in tattered cloaks approached, each carrying 
dried reeds, which they laid upon the ground. Be- 
hind them were troops of men, also in cotton armor, 
and bearing bows, shields, slings and stones. 

At this moment there came running from another 
temple ten Indians, all dressed in long, white robes, 
the long hair of their heads so matted with blood 
that it could neither be combed nor put in order 
without cutting. These ten were priests, and in that 
country are called papas — I repeat it, they are in 
that country called papas. These papas carried clay 
pans filled with glowing coals and a substance that 
looked like resin, and they term copal. With this 
burning resin they began to incense us, and they 
signed that we should leave their country before the 
reeds, about to be lighted, should be consumed; oth- 
erwise they would attack us and kill us, every man. 

After we had understood this determination of 
theirs, the papas ordered the reeds to be fired, and 
as soon as the wood began to burn they were silent. 
Those who had formed in line of battle, however, 
now set up a blowing of their pipes and twisted 
shells and beating of their drums. 

When we saw what they really meant, and how 



We Discover Yucatan ii 

confident they were, we naturally recalled the attack 
upon us a few days back, and our wounds which had 
not yet healed, and how two of our men had died 
of injuries. And as the number of Indians kept on 
increasing, we became alarmed and resolved to re- 
treat in best possible order. In such form we 
marched along the coast to where our casks lay, and 
finally managed to get our water safe on board the 
ships and ourselves re-embarked. 

Six days and six nights we continued our course 
with fair weather. But suddenly the wind veered to 
the north, and during a storm which lasted four days 
and nights we nearly found a sea-grave. To save 
ourselves we cast anchor near the shore. Our ropes 
were old, for in our fitting out we had not money 
enough to buy new, strong cables. Two of them 
gave way, and our ship began to drag her anchor. 
If the last rope were to yield, we should be cast away ! 
Oh, how perilously were we placed! But Provi- 
dence willed that our aged and worn cable should 
hold, and when the storm abated we were able to pro- 
ceed on our voyage. 

As we coasted along we espied a village, and be- 
yond it an inner harbor. We now saw that again 
we needed a fresh supply of water, for our casks 
were old, as I said, and wasted in leakage. We re- 
solved to land, hoping to find at the head of the har- 
bor a brook, or river, or fresh water. We did find 



12 The Mastering of Mexico I 

wells, and also maize fields and stone buildings, and 
while we were busy filling our casks, numbers of In- 
dians came over towards us from the village. Their | 
bodies were painted white, brown and black, they 
had on cotton cuirasses which came to the knee, and 
they bore such arms as lances, bows, swords and 
slings. They advanced in profound silence, as if 
with peaceful mind, and by signs asked us if we came 
from the rising of the sun. In return we signed that 
we had indeed come from the rising of the sun. 

Besides our water casks we had also carried with 
us our crossbows and muskets. And now we had 
closed our ranks and taken every precaution, when 
we heard the cries and yells of many natives advanc- 
ing from various quarters. We could no longer 
doubt the warriors meant to attack us. We there- 
fore consulted with our captain what course we should 
adopt. Many of us believed that our best plan was 
to re-embark in all haste. But, as is always the case 
in critical moments, one advised this, another that, 
and the proposal to return was lost on the ground 
that the Indians would fall on us while we were get- 
ting into the boats and kill us, every one. 

After a time we perceived more troops moving 
towards the coast, and w^ith flying colors. They had 
on their feather knots and bore all their different 
kinds of arms. Dividing into several bands, they 
filed round us on all sides and then began pouring 



We Discover Yucatan 13 

on us such a shower of arrows, lances and stones that 
they wounded more than eighty of our men at the 
first onset. But when they rushed furiously forward 
and attacked us man for man, we dealt many a good 
blow, keeping up at the same time an incessant fire 
with our muskets and crossbows, for while some 
loaded others fired. At last by dint of heavy thrusts 
we forced them to give way, and then we made for 
our boats. 

But serious misfortunes still awaited us, for our 
boats sank, or capsized, in our rush to get into them, 
and we were forced to cling to them as well as we 
could, and so, partly by swimming, to make our way 
to our small ship, which was now hastening to our 
aid. Our assailants wounded many of us even while 
we were climbing into the ship. 

The battle had lasted little longer than half an 
hour, but more than fifty of us were killed, and two 
the Indians had carried off alive. We who survived 
returned thanks to Almighty God for the preserva- 
tion of our lives as soon as we found ourselves in 
safety. When we began dressing our wounds we 
found that none of us had escaped without two or 
three, save one soldier; and our captain had as many 
as twelve. Those of the sailors who had accom- 
panied us to shore were also hurt, and since we had 
now not hands enough to work the sails, we deter- 
mined to return to Cuba. 



14 The Mastering of Mexico 

But we still had to struggle with a greater evil — 
want of fresh water — for although we had filled 
our leaky barrels and casks, because of the furious 
attack of the natives and our haste to get on board, 
we had not been able to bring them off. Our thirst 
was intense. The only way we could in some 
measure refresh our parched tongues was to hold the 
edge of our axes bet\veen our lips. Oh, what a fear- 
ful undertaking it is to venture out on the discovery 
of new countries! Those alone can form idea of it 
who have gone through its hard school. 



CHAPTER II 

How the Governor of Cuba ordered another fleet sent out, 
and what happened. 

In the following year of our Lord, 151 8, after 
he had heard the good account we gave of the country 
we discovered, Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, 
determined to send another expedition there. He 
chose four vessels, of which were the two we soldiers 
had purchased at our own cost and sailed in with 
Cordova. 

While he was busily engaged in fitting out this 
squadron, I, Bernal Diaz of Castile, worn out and 
miserably poor, arrived at Santiago de Cuba, where 
he lived; and I called upon him, for we were kins- 
men. He was highly pleased to see me and asked 
if my wounds were healed so that I could make 
another trip to Yucatan. I, laughing, asked him 
who had given the country that name. He an- 
swered, " The Indians you brought back call it that." 
" Call it rather," I returned, " the land where they 
killed one half of our men and wounded the other 
half." " I know you underwent many hardships," 
he answered; " hardships come to those who set out 
to discover new lands and win honor, and his maj- 

15 



i6 The Mastering of Mexico 

esty, the king, to whom I shall write, will reward you. 
Therefore, my son, join yourself to the fleet I am 
getting ready, and I will tell the captain to treat you 
with honor," 

The account we had brought back that houses In 
the newly discovered country were built of stone, had 
spread a vast idea of the riches of its people, and, 
added to this, one of our Indians had said there was 
gold. So soldiers, and settlers who owned no In- 
dians in Cuba, were eager to go to the new land, and 
in a very short time we mustered two hundred and 
twenty companions. Every one of us, out of his own 
funds, furnished what he could of arms, stores and 
other things for himself. 

With four men of courage and energy and means 
Velasquez soon came to terms — one of them, Juan 
de Grijalva, a kinsman of his, was to have chief com- 
mand of the expedition, while the other three should 
each control a ship. These officers were also to 
furnish stores of cassava bread and salt pork, and 
Diego Velasquez to provide crossbows, guns, and 
supply of beans, and beads and other things for bar- 
ter. 

The instructions Velasquez gave our officers, so far 
as I could learn, were to barter for all the gold and 
silver they could find, and to form a settlement, If 
they deemed it advisable; if not, then to return to 
Cuba. 



Our Second Voyage 17 

On the 5th of April, 15 18, we met together, and 
after the pilots, three of whom accompanied us on 
our former voyage, had had their instructions and 
the signals had been fixed, we paid our devotions at 
church and weighed anchor. In ten days we 
doubled the point called by the sailors San Anton, 
and eight days after we sighted the island of Cozu- 
mel. Our ships, carried by currents of the sea, stood 
further off than when we were there with Cordova, 
and we landed on the south side of the island, where 
was good anchorage, free from reefs, and also a 
town, 

A large body of us went on shore with our captain, 
but the people of the town, when they saw our ships 
approaching, took to flight, because they had never 
seen such a sight before. We found two weak, old 
men, however, hidden in a corn field, and we brought 
them before our captain. With the help of Julian 
and Melchior, whom, as I said, we had taken in our 
previous visit — with the help of our two Indians, 
who understood their language, our captain spoke 
kindly to these feeble old men and gave them some 
beads, and sent them away to bring the cacique of 
the town. But they never again appeared. 

While we were still waiting for their return, a 
comely Indian woman came towards us and began 
talking in the language of Jamaica, which many 
among us understood. She said the people had fled 



i8 The Mastering of Mexico 

to the mountains out of fear of us. Our captain 
then dispatched her to fetch them baclv, but she could 
persuade none to come. She told us that two years 
before she had left Jamaica with ten Indians in a 
large canoe with the plan to fish near some small 
island. But sea-currents had driven them to this 
shore, and the people had killed her husband and the 
other Indians in sacrifices to their gods. 

As soon as we had boarded our ships, we took 
the course we had taken under Cordova the year be- 
fore, and after eight days arrived off the coast where 
the natives had used us so ill and had slain fifty of 
our men and wounded the rest, Chanpoton. In 
these parts the sea is very shallow, and we anchored 
about three miles from the shore. The Indians 
gathered, as they had done the year before, and their 
haughty bearing showed they had not forgotten their 
victory. They were all well armed after their man- 
ner, with lances, bows and arrows, shields, slings 
and broad-swords, and they bore drums and trumpets, 
while they wore cotton cuirasses and had their faces 
painted black and white. Ranged along the sea- 
shore, they stood ready to fall upon us when we 
landed. We had learned prudence by suffering, 
however, and this time were well armed. 

When we were near enough to be hit, they let fly 
such a shower of arrows that they speedily wounded 
half our men. We gave them return with our 



Our Second Voyage 19 

matchlocks and good swords, however, as soon as we 
got on shore. Still they kept up the fight against 
us, each selecting a man against whom, as at a target, 
they shot. At length we were able to drive them 
back to the wells of the town. We had taken the 
precaution to put on cotton cuirasses, yet in the com- 
bat we lost seven soldiers, had over sixty men 
wounded, and our captain, Juan de Grijalva, got three 
arrow wounds and lost two of his teeth. 

Not a single native stayed in the town, which, 
after putting our enemy to flight, we entered to dress 
our wounds and bury the dead. The three we made 
prisoners our captain treated with every kindness, 
gave them green beads and small bells to give to the 
people to gain their good will, and sent them to 
summon their chief. They left us, indeed, but took 
good care not to come back. 

I shall never forget this place because of the Im- 
mense locusts we saw here. While we were fight- 
ing they jumped up and kept flying in our faces, and 
as the Indians were storming us with arrows at the 
same time, we sometimes mistook the locusts for 
arrows. But as soon as we saw our mistake, we 
made another worse, for when the arrows were com- 
ing towards us, we thought them only flying locusts, 
and in consequence we suffered greatly. 

Making our way towards the west, sailing along 
the coast by day and at night lying to on account of 



20 The Mastering of Mexico 

the shallows and rocks, we saw one morning the very 
broad mouth of a river, and we went near shore with 
the ships, thinking we should find good harborage. 
As we came closer in we saw the waves breaking, and 
found that our larger vessels could not enter because 
of a bar. It was therefore determined that the two 
smaller ships, which did not draw so much water, 
with all our boats well manned, should go on up the 
river. To this time the river had been called 
Tabasco, because the chief of the town called him- 
self Tabasco. But since we discovered it during this 
expedition, we gave it the name of Grijalva, in honor 
of our captain, and under that name it stands on the 
sea charts. 

Along the shore we could see troops of Indians 
with bows and arrows and other weapons, after the 
fashion of the people of Chanpoton, and we reasoned 
that a town could not be far off. We might have 
been say two miles from the town, when we heard 
the sound of the felling of trees. The Indians were 
making barricades and getting ready for war against 
us. As soon as we learned this, we disembarked on 
a point of land where some palm trees were growing. 
When they saw us land, Indians armed after their 
manner made towards us in fifty canoes, while many 
other canoes, manned in the same way, lay off in the 
creeks as if the warriors dared not approach us. | 

Seeing how ready they were for action, we were 



Our Second Voyage 21 

on the point of firing our great guns, when It pleased 
God to prompt us first to try and gain their friend- 
ship. Through our Indians, Julian and Melchlor, 
therefore, we told them they had nothing to fear 
from us; that we wished to talk with them and had 
things to tell, which, as soon as they learned, they 
would be glad' we came to their country; moreover, 
they should come to us and we would gladly give 
them of the things we had brought. 

When they heard our message, four of the canoes 
neared us, and we showed the thirty Indians sitting 
In them strings of glass beads and small mirrors. 
At the sight of green beads they were delighted, for 
they thought them made of chalchlhultes, a jadelte, 
which they treasure as very precious. 

Then, again, through our Indian interpreters our 
captain told them we had come from a distant 
country and were subjects of a great emperor whose 
name was Don Carlos, who had many lords as vas- 
sals, and that they ought to acknowledge him as 
their lord, and then It would go well with them; 
also. In exchange for the beads they should bring us 
fowls and other food. 

Two of the Indians, one of them a chief and the 
other a papa, that Is, a priest of their religion, — 
these two answered and said they would bring the 
food we wanted, and would barter with us; but, for 
the rest, they already had a chief, and they could 



22 The Mastering of Mexico 

not help feehng a good deal astonished that we, who 
had just arrived, should be wanting to put a master 
over them; we should beware about making war as 
we had done at Chanpoton, for they had at hand 
three armies, each of eight thousand men; to find 
what we intended to do was their real errand, how- 
ever, and whatever it was they should report to 
caciques assembled from many towns to unite for 
peace or war. 

In token of peace our captain now embraced the 
ambassadors and presented them with strings of glass 
beads, desiring them to bring back answer as soon 
as possible, and adding that if they did not come back, 
we should have to enter their town by force. 

But after consulting their caciques and papas, they 
returned and told us they would accept our offers 
of peace and supply us with food; and not only they 
themselves, but the neighboring towns would make 
us a present of gold to insure our friendship. In- 
dians commonly, we afterwards learned, give pres- 
ents when making peace. 

The following day about thirty Indians, laden with 
roasted fish and fowls, maize bread and fruit, came 
to the promontory where the palms stood. They 
also brought pans filled with live coals on which they 
strewed resin and incensed all of us. After this they 
spread some mats on the ground, and over the mats 
cotton cloths, and on these some small ornaments 



Our Second Voyage 23 

of gold in the shape of lizards and ducks, and three 
necklaces and other articles made of a low grade of 
gold. Although the presents they offered were of 
little value, all together not worth two hundred dol- 
lars, still we were glad of the proof they brought 
that there was gold in this country. They also 
brought some cloaks and waistcoats, such as they 
wear, and said we must accept them in good part 
for they had no more gold to give us, but that fur- 
ther on, towards the setting of the sun, there was 
plenty of gold, adding " Colua ! Colua ! Mexico! 
Mexico ! " We, however, did not know what Colua, 
or Mexico, could mean. 

As soon as they had made us the presents they 
told us we might set out, and after our captain, had 
thanked them and given each some green beads, we 
determined to re-embark, for if a norther should 
begin to blow the two ships would be in danger; and 
we had now, moreover, to go in quest of that strange 
country, " Mexico ! Mexico ! " which, these Indians 
said, abounded in gold. 

We boarded our ships and ran along the coast for 
two days, when we came in sight of a town. We 
could see crowds of Indians hurrying to and fro along 
the shore — their shields made of huge tortoise- 
shells glittered so beautifully in the sun that some 
of our soldiers believed them gold. Further along 
we came to a bay into which the Tonala flows, and 



24 The Mastering of Mexico 

we gave the river the name of San Antonio, which 
it still has upon the maps. And we also passed the 
mouth of the great Coatzacoalcos, where we would 
gladly have run in the bay, if winds had not pre- 
vented. Soon we sighted great snow mountains, 
crested with snow the whole year round, and other 
mountains, too, nearer the sea, which we called San 
Martin because a soldier of that name, who came 
from Havana, was the first to see them. 

So we kept on our course, all four ships together, 
when we came to the mouth of another river, which 
we called the Banderas* or flag stream, because there 
a troop of Indians filled the river banks, and each 
lance they bore carried a flag of white cloth with 
which they waved to and beckoned us. 

By this time the great city of Mexico must be 
known throughout Christendom — how like Venice 
it was built in the water, how it was governed by a 
mighty monarch, Montezuma, king of countries 
more than four times as large as Spain, a lord so 
powerful he would extend his rule beyond what was 
possible and would know things he never could learn. 
This great Montezuma had received news of our 
visit under Cordova the year before, and of what 
happened at the battle of Chanpoton during this pres- 
ent voyage, and he knew that we soldiers, merely a 
handful, had defeated the warriors of that town and 

• Rio Jamapa on modern maps. 



i 



Our Second Voyage 25 

their allies. Moreover, he had learned that we 
sought gold, and for that we gladly exchanged our 
goods. All this Information he had from time to 
time received through figures drawn, as is the cus- 
tom of the people, on a thick cloth much like linen 
and made from fibres of the maguey. 

Now, when Montezuma knew we were coasting 
along towards his dominions, he sent orders to his 
governors that at every place where we landed they 
should exchange gold for our glass beads, especially 
for the green beads which so much resemble their 
valued chalchihuites or jadeite. Further, he ordered 
them to gain all knowledge they could of us and of 
our plans. The reason he dwelt most particularly 
upon the last point was that a legend of their Indian 
ancestors had foretold how men with beards should, 
in the future, come from the rising of the sun and 
gain dominion over them. 

For whatever purpose it may have been, the great 
Montezuma had ordered these sentinels who filled 
the banks of the river, and every lance hung with a 
white cotton cloth, which the sentinels waved inviting 
us to come to them. 

For ourselves, we were fairly astonished at so 
novel a sight, and our captain, with other officers and 
soldiers, agreed to find out what the whole matter 
meant. We therefore lowered two of our boats and 
manned them with twenty of our most daring sol- 



26 The Mastering of Mexico 

diers, who, with Francisco de Montejo in command, 
should go to enquire. I was of the number. It 
pleased God that the weather should be calm, which 
is rare enough on these coasts, and we all got safely 
ashore, where three caciques, one of them a gov- 
ernor under Montezuma, met us. They were at- 
tended by many Indians, who brought fowls, maize 
bread, pineapples and other food, and they spread 
mats in the shade of trees and invited us to sit down, 
all by signs, for Julian from Yucatan did not under- 
stand their Mexican language. Then they brought 
clay pans filled with live coals, on which they strewed 
a resin and incensed us. 

As soon as Francisco de Montejo sent word of 
what had taken place, our captain determined to 
anchor the ships and go ashore with all our men. 
When he landed the cacique paid him most marked 
respect and incensed him with great zeal. He in re- 
turn gave them beads and treated them in every 
friendly way, and after he signified that they should 
bring gold to barter, the governor sent orders to 
neighboring towns to fetch every trinket they had in 
the shape of gold for exchange with us. Thus it 
happened that during the six days we stayed there 
they brought more than sixteen thousand dollars' 
worth of jewelry of low grade gold and various work- 
manship. 

In the name of his majesty, the king of Spain, we 



I 



Our Second Voyage 27 

took possession of the land, and as soon as we did 
this our captain presented the Indians with some 
Spanish shirts and told them we wished to return to 
our ships. One of their number we took with us, 
and after he had learned our language he became a 
Christian named Francisco. 

Further along the coast we sighted islands, among 
them one, about five miles from the shore, which 
offered us a very good roadstead. Here our captain 
gave orders for the ships to come to anchor, and 
after we had lowered boats many of us soldiers went 
aland, for we had seen smoke as we neared the shore. 
We found two strongly built stone houses, each with 
steps leading up to an altar, and on these altars idols 
of horrible shapes. Bodies of five natives still lay 
where the night before the papas had sacrificed them 
— their chests cut open, their arms and legs off, while 
the walls about were besmeared with blood. At all 
this we stood in utter amazement, and gave the island 
the name of Isla de Sacrificios. 

Sailing onwards, we anchored opposite another 
island about two miles from the main land — at a 
harbor at present thought the best in the country, the 
port of Vera Cruz. When we were landed on the 
sands of this beach, swarms of mosquitos so annoyed 
us that we had to build huts on the great sand dunes, 
and in the tops of trees. From our boats we care- 
fully examined the harbor and found that it had a 



28 The Mastering of Mexico 

good bottom for anchorage, and it was, moreover, 
sheltered from northers. Our captain and thirty of 
us soldiers, all well armed, went over the island, and 
found a temple on which stood a large and ugly idol 
of the god Tezcatlipoca.* Four Indian priests or 
papas, clad in wide black cloaks, and with flying hair, 
had that very day offered the hearts and blood of two 

•When, in the following pages, the reader meets the names 
Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilopochtli, will he kindly bear in mind 
these diflFerences between the two gods? 

There were few departments of native life with which the god 
Tezcatlipoca was not intimately connected. He was present 
everywhere and saw all that happened and therefore his images 
bore a mirror as a symbol. As the night wind he was supposed 
to wander through the streets after dark in search of evil doers, 
and as night-god and warrior-god to appear in all sorts of grisly 
shapes to test the courage of those he might meet. Schools in 
which children prepared for military service were under his pro- 
tection. Of slaves he was defender. As god of divine punish- 
ment he was also god of confession — the penitent confessing his 
sins before a priest whom he regarded as representative of the 
god and who gave absolution. The fifth months of the year, be- 
ginning the 23rd of April, was symbolized by a figure of the god 
and was the occasion of the feast at which a young man, identi- 
fied with the god, was sacrificed to him after a year spent in the 
enjoyment of every luxury that Mexican civilization could afford. 

Huitzilopochtli was tribal god of the Aztecs to whom he gave 
the bow, saying, " All that flies on high do the Mexicans know 
how to hit with the arrow." God of war and of hunting he 
sprang, the legend ran, from an earth goddess after a ball of 
down had fallen on her from heaven. The ninth month begin- 
ning the i2th of July was sometimes symbolized by a figure of 
Huitzilopochtli, and celebrated by a flower-feast. For further 
knowledge about gods of the Mexicans the reader should consult 
"Mexican Archxology " by Thomas A. Joyce — from which book 
the contents of this note were gained. 



Our Second Voyage 29 

boys before the horrible figure. The papas came 
towards us to Incense us with the perfuming resin 
with which they had incensed Tezcathpoca, but we 
were so shocked at the sight of those two boys they 
had just killed, and so disgusted with their abomina- 
tions, we would not suffer their incense. Our cap- 
tain, by signs, questioned the Indian Francisco, whom 
we had brought with us from the Banderas stream, 
and who seemed to be intelligent, and Francisco an- 
swered that the people of Colua had ordered the 
sacrifices. As Francisco halted in his speech, he pro- 
nounced the word " Olua, Olua," and from this hap- 
pening, and because our captain himself was present 
and was named Juan, and also because it was the day 
of St. John in June, we called this small island San 
Juan de Ulua.* This harbor, we say, has been 
much frequented. In the fifty years since our dis- 
covery of it great numbers of ships have refitted 
there; and now all merchandise from Castile for 
Mexico is there unladen. 

While we were encamped on these sand dunes, na- 
tives from nearby towns brought us gold trinkets for 
barter, but the few things were so poor in quality 
that we scarce troubled ourselves about them. In 
the huts we had built we stayed seven days, although 

* In the halting of the speech of this Indian is the origin of the 
name of the celebrated fort of San Juan de Ulua, on one of the 
reefs fronting Vera Cruz — a name enduring through most varied 
fortunes of three centuries. 



30 The Mastering of Mexico 

we suffered much discomfort from mosquitos. Our 
captain, Grijalva, who had proved himself a large- 
minded man and brave soldier, was well minded to 
found a colony even with our few men. But because 
we were now convinced that these lands before us 
were the mainland and contained large towns, and 
because our cassava bread had become mouldy and 
unfit to eat, and because our numbers were too few 
to permit us to form a settlement — thirteen of our 
men had died of wounds and four were still ill — we 
agreed to forward to Diego Velasquez account of 
our condition and ask him to send succor. To go 
on this mission to Cuba, Pedro de Alvarado was 
chosen, and he soon sailed in the good ship San Se- 
bastian, taking with him all the gold and cotton cloth 
we had bartered for, and also our sick men. The 
officers of the other ships, each giving his own ac- 
count, also sent the governor letters of what we had 
seen. 

From the moment our fleet had quitted Cuba, 
Diego Velasquez had been downcast and anxious lest 
some misfortune befall us. When, however, Al- 
varado came into port with the gold and cloth and 
sick men, and when Velasquez saw the gold worked 
into various trinkets, and heard the whole story of 
what we had found, his joy was great. Nor were 
the officers who received the king's fifth less aston- 
ished at the riches of the lands we had discovered. 



Our Second Voyage 31 

Alvarado, who knew how to gain over Diego Velas- 
quez, afterwards said that the governor could do 
nothing but embrace him, and that he ordered festivi- 
ties and sports for eight days. Rumor of riches in 
these lands had already gone about, but now that 
gold had really come, fanciful reports spread through 
all the islands and the whole of Spain. 

After Alvarado had set sail for Cuba our officers 
held our course along the coast, and we saw numbers 
of towns lying from six to nine miles inland. From 
one of these a troop of Indians in twenty large canoes 
came out and attacked us. We continued our course, 
however, until we neared a wide cape,* where on 
account of strong currents we could make no head- 
way, and it was finally agreed that we should return 
to Cuba. 

We therefore turned our ships about, hoisted all 
sails, and, aided by the currents, came in a few days 
to the waters of the broad Coatzacoalcos. Here 
boisterous weather forced us onward to the smaller 
river Tonala, where we careened one of our ships, 
for she had struck three several times on entering 
the river and was fast making water. 

While we were busy at this work many Indians 
came from the town of Tonala, about four miles 
away, and with great good will brought us maize 
bread, fish and fruits. Our commander paid them 

* Cape Roxo. 



32 The Mastering of Mexico 

kind attentions and gave them white and green glass 
beads, signing to them also that they should bring 
us gold for barter and that for it we would give our 
goods in return. They brought gold, and this also 
did people from.Coatzacoalcos, exchanging their or- 
naments — of a debased gold, however — for the 
green glass beads they highly valued. 

Besides gold, every Indian had with him a highly 
polished copper axe, the handle curiously wrought as 
if to serve as well for an ornament as for battle use. 
We thought these axes were made of a low grade 
gold and began bartering for them, with the result 
that within three days we had taken more than six 
hundred, with which we, thinking, I say, they con- 
tained gold, were even more content than the Indians 
were with their green glass beads. 

How I sowed some orange seeds in this place I 
must tell. So many mosquitos swarmed along the 
river that I one day went up and lay down to rest in 
a tall temple of the Indians. In gratitude for the 
quiet sleep I had, and because it was rumored that 
we were to come back there to settle, I planted at 
the foot of the temple eight orange seeds I had 
brought with me from Cuba. When they came up 
the papas of the temple must have seen they were 
plants different from those they knew, and they must 
have protected them from the ants and weeds, and 
watered them. For years after, when we had con- 



I 



Our Second Voyage 33 

quered Mexico, and the most Illustrious of the con- 
querors, among which number was myself, settled 
in this province, I did not forget to look for, and to 
my joy find, my orange trees. I transplanted them 
and they flourished most uncommonly, and all the 
oranges of New Spain are descendants of my plants. 
I know well It will be said such old tales are quite out 
of character here, so I will tell no more of them. 

Boarding our ships again we set sail for Cuba, and 
after more than forty days of weather, sometimes 
fair and sometimes foul, we arrived at Santiago. 
When Diego Velasquez saw the gold we had 
brought, well worth four thousand dollars, he was 
highly pleased, for with that already given over by 
Alvarado, the amount was now twenty thousand dol- 
lars. Some made the sum less, some even more. 
Officers of the king took the royal fifth, and were so 
minded as to the six hundred axes, but when these 
were brought out and seen to be merely a good kind 
of copper there was a good laugh at us and much 
broad-spread fun at our zeal In bartering. 



CHAPTER III 

Hoiv Diego Velasquez petitioned the kinig of Spain to grant 
hint commission to conquer^ settle and apportion the land ; 
and we came again with a new fleet with Cortes as 
captain. 

Before I begin to tell of Cortes and our expedi- 
tion of which he was the commander, I must relate 
certain happenings which can not be omitted, for they 
bore on later ev^ents. 

After Alvarado had arrived at Santiago with th 
gold we had gained in the newly discovered lands, 
Diego Velasquez began to fear that, before he could 
make his report to the king, some court favorite, get- 
ting private news of our discoveries, might rob him 
of his reward. For this reason he sent to Spain a 
chaplain of his, Benito Martinez, a man skilled in 
business, to bear letters and a great portion of the 
gold trinkets to Juan Rodriguez, bishop of Burgos 
and archbishop of Rosano; and also to the licentiate 
Luis Zapata and the secretary Lope de Conchillos, 
who at that time had charge of Indian affairs under 
the archbishop. Our governor of Cuba, Diego 
Velasquez, was quite devoted to these men and had 
given them sizable Indian villages, with the people 

34 



y 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 35 

of which they worked gold-mines. For this reason 
they were disposed to do much for Diego Velas- 
quez. 

King Charles of Spain was at this time in Flan- 
ders, and everything done by the Imperial Council 
of the Indies was by command of these gentlemen. 
What Diego Velasquez sought through his chaplain 
was permission to trade with, conquer and found col- 
onies in the countries we had lately discovered. In 
the accounts he forwarded he told of the many thou- 
sands of dollars he had already spent in the under- 
taking. Chaplain Benito Martinez added so suc- 
cessfully to these reports that he was able to bring 
back from Spain a decree granting all Diego Velas- 
quez asked, and also, for the governor, the title of 
adelantado, or governor-in-chief, of Cuba. 

Upon the return of Juan de Grijalva from our 
voyage, in the year 15 18, Diego Velasquez had at 
once ordered the fitting out of a fleet larger than our 
last. For this purpose he had already got together 
in the harbor of Santiago ten ships; four of them, 
careened and refitted, were those in which we had 
returned, and six others from other ports of Cuba. 
These vessels he had provisioned with cassava bread 
and smoked bacon, for at that time, as I have said, 
Cuba had been so lately settled that there was neither 
mutton nor beef to be had. 

But all this while Diego Velasquez could not make 



36 The Mastering of Mexico 

up his mind whom he should name as commander. 
Certain gentlemen put forward a captain of great 
renown, Vasco Porcallo, related to some earl. This 
man, however, did not suit Diego Velasquez, for he 
feared, since the captain was very daring, he would 
turn against him when once the fleet was in his hands. 
Others talked of various kinsmen of Velasquez for 
the place. We soldiers would hear of none other 
than our Juan de Grijalva, who was himself valiant 
and knew how to command, and who bore an un- 
stained character. 

While like rumors were afloat the affair was se- 
cretly settled with Hernando Cortes, a native of 
Medellin, a gentleman who held a grant of Indians 
in Cuba. Two favorites of Diego Velasquez had 
come to an agreement with Cortes. These two did 
all in their power to induce the governor to appoint 
Cortes commander-in-chief of the fleet, taking every 
occasion to praise Cortes, to extol his energy, his 
courage, his ability to command, his faithfulness in 
everything entrusted to his charge — for Cortes had 
promised to divide between the three of them all 
gains which, during this expedition, might fall to his 
share, and his spoils might turn out to be very large,! 
for the real design of Diego Velasquez in sending* 
the expedition was to barter with the natives and not 
to form settlements as was announced and published. 
In the end \'clasquc'/ chose Cortes captain-general. 



1 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 37 

The next Sunday, when Diego Velasquez was on 
his way to church, and in company with the principal 
persons of the town, he placed Cortes on his right 
side to do him honor. While they were on the road 
a jester, nicknamed Fool Cervantes, ran in front of 
the governor, playing pranks and cracking all sorts 
of jokes. " Alas ! alas ! my friend Diego," he cried, 
" what manner of captain have you chosen? He of 
Medellin in Estramadura ! A captain to try his luck 
in no little way. Have care that he does not run 
off with your fleet, for you can see by his face he is 
terrible when once he begins." 

As Fool Cervantes was running on in this strain, 
growing more and more severe, one of the favorites 
of Velasquez, walking by the side of Cortes, gave 
the fellow a cuff, crying, " Silence, thou drunken 
knave! I know this scandalous wit of thine never 
sprang in thy brain! " But, taking no notice of the 
blow, the fool still ran on, " Long life to my friend 
Diego and the valiant captain, Cortes! Master 
Diego, that you may not weep over your bargain, I 
must go myself with Cortes to those rich lands." 

Nobody doubted for a moment but some kinsmen 
of the governor had hired the jester to utter these 
sayings, and to pass them off as wit. Everything 
the fool predicted, nevertheless, came true to the let- 
ter and goes to prove that often fools speak the truth. 
Still, it became in the end certain that the appoint- 



38 The Mastering of Mexico 

mcnt of Hernando Cortes was pleasing in the eye of 
God, and of first importance to his majesty, the king 
of Spain.* 

As soon as Cortes had received his commission he 
set about to gather all manner of arms and warlike 
stores, matchlocks, crossbows, powder and the like; 
and also a large stock of goods for barter, and every- 
thing necessary for the expedition. Now, also, he 
became more careful of his appearance, and wore a 
bunch of feathers fastened on his cap with a gold 
medal, and a velvet cloak trimmed with gold — 
which made him look more gallant. His counte- 
nance was most winning, he talked well and his affa- 
bility drew people to him. Twice he had been al- 
calde, or mayor, of the town in which he lived. 

Notwithstanding all this, Cortes was at that time 
greatly pinched for money to buy what he needed, 
and was head over ears in debt. But when his 
friends among the merchants heard he had been made 
commander, they lent him four thousand dollars in 
coin, and still more secured by his Indians and es- 

*"I must inform the reader," wrote Bernal Diaz, "why, when 
speaking of Cortes, I. never call him Don Hernando Cortes, or mar- 
quis, or by any other title but plainly Cortes. The reason is that 
he himself was best pleased when he was simply addressed as 
Cortes. And besides this first reason is a second; — the name of 
Cortes stood in equal renown throughout the whole of Spain after 
the mastering of Mexico, as in old Roman times the names of Julius 
Cxsar and of Pompey stood among the Roman peoples, and among 
the Carthaginians the name of Hannibal." 




Hernando Cortes 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 39 

tates. With this money he ordered two standards 
and banners worked in gold with the royal arms and 
a cross on each side and beneath an inscription say- 
ing, " Brothers, in true faith let us follow the cross, 
and victory is ours." He then made known in the 
name of his majesty and of the governor, and by 
sound of trumpet and drum, that whatsoever person 
wished to go in his company to the newly discovered 
lands to conquer and settle, should have share in the 
gold, silver and riches gained. To any one who set- 
tled there, after the country had been pacified, he 
promised (although Benito Martinez had not yet 
returned from Spain with authority to Velasquez to 
grant this) charge of Indians and landed property. 

Upon all the people of Cuba this proclamation 
made deep impression. Cortes wrote to all his 
friends in the various towns also, begging them to 
get ready and join the expedition. Many sold all 
they had to buy themselves arms and a horse. Oth- 
ers began to prepare cassava bread and salt pork for 
provisioning the ships, and so make ready the best 
they could. 

But while Cortes was working hard to push for- 
ward preparations and get his fleet under way, rela- 
tives of Velasquez, feeling themselves aggrieved be- 
cause Cortes had the headship, and still hoping 
finally to gain the commission, took every occasion 
to lower him in the eyes of Velasquez. Fully know- 



40 The Mastering of Mexico 

ing this, Cortes aimed to be every day at the gov- 
ernor's side, to show his zeal in serving him, and to 
talk of the glory of the undertaking and the vast 
riches that would accrue from it to Diego Velasquez. 
Nevertheless, one of the two favorites who had 
gained the appointment for Cortes was always urg- 
ing the captain to hasten his embarking — before the 
relatives, moved by envy and malice, should change 
the governor's mind. 

Finally, everything being in readiness and a ru- 
mor getting afloat that Velasquez had determined to 
take the command from Cortes, our captain ordered 
that all officers, pilots, soldiers, and as much pro- 
vision as possible, should be aboard by a certain 
nightfall. With this company of three hundred he 
embarked and was about to set sail, when friends 
roused the sleeping Diego Velasquez. The gov- 
ernor, springing from his bed, mounted his horse and 
galloped to the landing. Upon Cortes seeing him, 
he, accompanied by trusty men, entered a boat armed 
with cannon and muskets, and rowed within speaking 
distance. There the boat stopped. " Is this the 
way you are parting from me, my friend?" called 
Velasquez. " Is this the right way to take your 
leave?" "Your excellency must pardon me," an- 
swered Cortes, " there are some things that must be 
done before they are thought of. I am at your ex- 
cellency's orders." But when Diego Velasquez saw 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 41 

how evident Cortes had made his bad faith and 
shamelessness, he had nothing to say. Upon this 
Cortes ordered the boat to return to the ship, and 
sails hoisted for all speed — the i8th of November, 
1518. 

Weather being fine, we arrived, after a few days' 
sail, safely in the harbor of Trinidad, where the peo- 
ple came out to welcome us, each gentleman striving 
to have our captain for his guest. Cortes set up his 
standard In front of his quarters and issued a proc- 
lamation, and, as he had done in Santiago, got to- 
gether what he could of fire-arms, cassava bread, 
salted meat and other necessities. 

Here many gentlemen joined us, a number coming 
from Santlspiritus, to which towns Cortes had writ- 
ten public letters, for he knew well how to mix fair 
words in his sentences and offer promises, and to at- 
tract many persons of standing in these towns. Here, 
also, he hired soldiers and bought horses. Alonzo 
Hernandez Puertocarrero had not money enough to 
buy one, so Cortes bought one for him and paid for 
it with gold trimmings from the velvet cloak he had 
had made at Santiago. 

Meanwhile Diego Velasquez had forwarded let- 
ters and commands that Cortes be sent to him. For, 
after he had set out from Santiago with all the ships, 
relatives of Velasquez and their clique left the gov- 
ernor not a moment's peace, telling him Cortes 



42 The Mastering of Mexico 

showed that he was already in rebeUion by his sneak- 
ing out of the harbor, and that he had never made 
any secret of his intention to be commander, that he 
had deah as if he owned the fleet, and finally that 
he had entered into arrangements with the two fa- 
vorites to gain the command for him. 

These speeches, added to his natural suspicions, 
turned the head of Velasquez, and he despatched 
messages to the alcalde of Trinidad, his brother-in- 
law, peremptorily ordering him to deprive Cortes 
of the squadron. But the alcalde saw that Cortes 
had so many friends among the soldiers and officers 
that the whole town would be divided, and perhaps 
sacked, and he hesitated to act; while Cortes, writing 
Velasquez of his astonishment at his decision, repeat- 
ing his desire to serve God and his governor, and 
advising him to listen no further to his cousin, sent 
his letter by the messenger who had brought the order 
for his arrest. 

The next step of Cortes was to have his men put 
their arms in repair, and every smith in town was 
soon at work pointing our lances, while the cross- 
bowmen overhauled stocks and made arrows. After 
twelve days at Trinidad we sailed for Havana. 

Each man of us had his choice either to go to Ha- 
vana by sea, or march by land and pick up some 
men who lived along the way. Fifty other soldiers 
and I gladly joined Alvarado, who had command 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 43 

overland, and our duties were increased by charge 
of all our horses. Every one of us arrived safely in 
Havana. But five days passed without news of 
Cortes and his ship, and we began to wonder If he 
had been lost near the Isle of Pines. At last, to the 
great joy of us gentlemen and soldiers, his ship ap- 
peared over the horizon. It seemed he had had 
the misfortune, when off the Isle of Pines, to run 
aground, for many shallows are there, and all the 
cargo of his ship had to be taken ashore In boatfuls 
before she could be floated, and, after she had taken 
deeper water, to be carried back and again packed in. 

The heart of Cortes leaped with joy when he saw 
assembled in Havana the many men of rank who 
had joined us. They brought to our stores quantities 
of cassava bread and cured bacon. And now cotton 
being very plentiful, we made well padded cuirasses 
to protect ourselves from the Indians' darts, arrows, 
lances and stones, and meanwhile Cortes ordered our 
heavy guns, ten brass cannon and a few falconets 
brought ashore, tested and furnished with balls and 
powder. 

When all this was settled, the horses and stores of 
maize and hay for their provender were distributed 
among the ships. Cortes had a dark chestnut horse. 
Pedro de Alvarado and Hernando de Avila had 
jointly an excellent brown mare, broken in for sport 
and battle alike. Alonzo Hernandez Puertocarrero, 



44 The Mastering of Mexico 

a grey mare, the same which Cortes had bought for 
him with the gold border from his cloak; and she 
was capitally trained for battle. Juan Velasquez de 
Leon, a grey mare also, a noble animal full of fire 
and eager for battle — we commonly called her Bob- 
tail. Cristobal de Olid, a dark, chestnut, fine-spirited 
horse. Francisco de Montejo and Alonzo de Avila, 
between them, a sorrel horse of little use in battle. 
Francisco de Morla, a dark chestnut horse, wonder- 
fully swift and easily guided, w^hile Juan de Escalente 
had a light chestnut horse with three w^hite stockings, 
not worth much, and Diego de Ordas had a grey 
mare that was tolerably good, but not swift. Gon- 
zalo Dominguez, a small, dark chestnut horse, very 
swift. Pedro Gonzalez de Trujillo had also a chest- 
nut that was a good goer. Moron had a very handy 
dappled horse, Baena a dappled horse that was a bad 
leaper. Lares an excellent, light-chestnut goer, Ortiz, 
the musician, and Bartolome Garcia, between them, 
a good dark horse, which they called The Mule- 
driver, and Juan Sedeno, a chestnut mare. This 
Juan Sedeno was thought the richest soldier in the 
fleet, for he had a ship of his own, his own lading of 
cassava bread and salt pork, a negro and a horse — 
and about that time horses and negroes were worth 
their weight in gold. 

Let us turn back for a moment to Diego Velas- 
quez. When he knew for certain that his brother- 



We Go with Cortes as Captain 45 

in-law, the alcalde of Trinidad, had not only con- 
firmed Cortes in his government of the fleet, but had 
helped him to get away, he roared with rage, they 
said, declaring Cortes had run off with the whole 
squadron, and that his own two favorites had lent 
the captain every possible aid. Nor did he stop 
here. He despatched letters to his sub-governor of 
Havana, and to his friends there, praying them by 
all the friendship they bore him not to permit the 
fleet to get away, and to send Cortes under guard to 
Santiago. 

As soon as the bearer of these despatches arrived, 
Cortes learned their tenor, and through the bearer 
himself — for a friar of the Order of Mercy, who 
was much in the company of Velasquez, forwarded 
by this same messenger a letter to a friar who was in 
the fleet. By this means Cortes learned the whole 
affair, and he at once went to the sub-governor and 
won him to his side — this was easily done because 
the sub-governor was put out with Velasquez for not 
giving him a better grant of Indians — so that he 
sent back the messenger with the word that he dared 
not seize Cortes, for he was too beloved by his sol- 
diers, and he feared, if he should, they would sack 
the town and carry off his people. Cortes himself 
wrote to Velasquez in the smooth terms he knew so 
well how to use, assuring him that he did nothing 
against the governor's interests, that he was his faith- 



46 The Mastering of Mexico 

ful servant and was going to set sail the very next 
day. 

The fleet sailed on the loth of February, 15 19, 
and shaping its course direct to Cozumel, we landed 
our men in the same harbor I mentioned when I told 
of our expedition under Grijalva. Three days after 
we were landed Cortes ordered a muster to see how 
many of us there were. Not counting pilots and 
sailors, who were about one hundred, we numbered 
five hundred and eight men; and sixteen horses or 
mares, all trained for sport or war. We had eleven 
ships, great and small, and one, a sort of brig, which 
belonged to one man. Thirteen of our number were 
musketeers, and thirty-two, perhaps, crossbowmen. 
Added to these were our ten cannon, four falconets 
and quantities of powder and balls. 

After this review, Cortes ordered certain artillery- 
men to keep all our gims clean and ready for use, 
and likewise two crossbowmen to inspect the cross- 
bows and see that every crossbow had two or three 
nuts and as many cords carefully stored. He also 
ordered that the men should exercise in shooting at 
a target, and the horses be accustomed to fire-arms 
and kept in fine condition. But I should not use so 
much ink in telling how particular and exact Cortes 
was — except to say he was most vigilant about the 
merest trifles. 



< 



CHAPTER IV 

How we found the Spaniard, AguilaVj slave to a cacique; 
and what happened at Tabasco. 

Cortes was most attentive to every detail, I say, 
and that trait led to his sending for me and another 
and asking us what we thought about those words, 
" Castilan ! Castilan ! " which the Indians of Cam- 
peche had cried when, under Cordova, we landed 
there. He said he had often thought about the cir- 
cumstance and could not help believing some Span- 
iards must be living among them and it now seemed to 
him that it would not be amiss to ask the caciques 
of Cozumel as to the whole matter. We therefore 
questioned the chiefs, through Melchior, who had 
now gained a little Spanish, and were overjoyed to 
hear that certain Spaniards did serve caciques living 
two days' march inland. 

The caciques we questioned undertook to forward 
letters to these Spaniards. When Cortes gave them 
presents, and promised more on their return, they 
said that it would be necessary to send a ransom in 
addition, for the Spaniards served as slaves. The 
messengers therefore carried with them every sort 

47 



48 The Mastering of Mexico 

of glass beads. Two of our smaller ships, with 
crossbowmen and musketeers, went in the quest, the 
larger ship to wait while the messengers carried let- 
ters to and from the captive Spaniards, and the 
smaller to bear news to Cortes of what was being 
done. 

After lapse of a few days our letters reached a 
Spaniard named Aguilar. When he read how Cortes 
urged the captives to join him, and when he received 
his ransom, he was glad beyond all measure, and 
hastening with his beads to the cacique who was his 
master, begged leave to depart. The cacique at once 
consented, and Aguilar set out in quest of his com- 
panion. But when he reached this old-time comrade 
of his and read to him Cortes' letter calling them to 
liberty and to associations with their fellow country- 
men, the old comrade said, " Brother Aguilar, I have 
married one of the women of this country and I have 
three children. The Indians look upon me in war 
time as a cacique. Do you go, and God be with you. 
But my face is tattooed, my ears pierced and my lips 
turned down. What would the Spaniards say if they 
saw me in such a fix? And look at these three chil- 
dren of mine, how lovely they are! Give me some 
of your beads for them, and I will say that my 
brothers sent them from my country." At this mo- 
ment the Spaniard's Indian wife, who, warming with 
anger, had been watching Aguilar, cried, " Look at 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 49 

that slave ! Why is he coming here to talk to my 
husband?" — and turning to Aguilar she added, 
" Mind your own business, and don't you trouble 
yourself about us." 

After a considerable delay, we despairing of find- 
ing him, and he of ever reaching us, Aguilar finally 
came to our camp. Some soldiers, returning one 
day from chasing musk swine, told Cortes that a 
canoe was approaching. Our captain at once sent 
Andres de Tapia with a couple of men to find what 
the news might be, for never before had a canoe 
come fearlessly towards us. When Tapia saw the 
seven who landed were Indians, and called to them 
that they need have no fear, in broken Spanish one 
cried, " Dios y Santa Maria de Sevilla ! " and rushed 
to Tapia and embraced him. A soldier in Tapia's 
company promptly ran to Cortes with news that a 
Spaniard had returned. So much did his counte- 
nance look like that of an Indian that, as the seven 
men passed, many of our men kept asking, " Which 
is the Spaniard? " Added to the fact that his com- 
plexion was naturally brown, he was shorn like an 
Indian slave. He carried a paddle across his shoul- 
der and had a tattered stocking on one leg and an- 
other at his waist, while a loin cloth and ragged cloak 
covered his nakedness. An old and worn " Book of 
Hours " he carried folded in a corner of his cloak. 

As the seven drew near Cortes, he like the rest of 



50 The Mastering of Mexico 

us asked, "Where is the Spaniard?" When 
Aguilar heard this he squatted on his haunches after 
the Indian fashion and said, " I am he." Cortes at 
once gave him a shirt, coat, drawers and shoes from 
our stores, and asked him to tell how he got to this 
country. Still in broken Spanish the man told his 
name — Jeronimo de Aguilar — and how, eight 
years before, when he and fifteen men and two 
women were passing from Darien to the island of 
Santo Domingo, their ship had struck a rock and he 
and his companions had got into the ship's boat, 
hoping to make the island of Cuba or Jamaica. But 
sea currents had carried them to this island. Here 
the Indians had sacrificed many of his companions, 
others had died of grief, and the two women, worn 
out w^ith the labor of grinding corn, of overwork. 
Aguilar himself the Indians had doomed to sacrifice, 
but he escaped one night and fled to the cacique from 
whom we had ransomed him. 

This island of Cozumel was, it seemed, a place to 
which Indians from various parts of Yucatan made 
pilgrimages for the purpose of sacrificing before some 
hideous idols which stood in a temple there. The 
court about this temple we saw one morning crowded 
with Indians, men and women, burning a resin like 
our incense. After a while an old Indian, a papa or 
priest, wearing a long cloak, mounted the steps of 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 51 

the temple and began preaching to the congregation. 
Cortes asked Melchlor to interpret, and when he 
found that the sermon led to unrighteous deeds, he 
sent for the papa and the cacique and by the aid of 
our interpreter told them that if they were to be our 
brothers they must cast out their idols which would 
lead their souls to hell. Continuing, he explained to 
them the good and holy things of our religion, and 
gave them, to set up, an image of Our Lady and a 
cross — which would always aid them and make their 
seeds grow. But still the papa and caciques an- 
swered that their forefathers had worshipped their 
gods because they were good gods, and they did not 
dare desert them. 

Cortes then ordered us to break the idols and 
throw them down the steps. He commanded also 
that lime be brought from the town and Indian ma- 
sons set up an altar. It proved a fair one, and on 
it we placed the figure of Our Lady. At the same 
time two of our carpenters made a cross of some 
timber which lay at hand, and this we placed in a 
small chapel we built behind the altar. After this 
a priest of ours, Juan Diaz, said mass in front of the 
new altar, the papa and all the Indians looking on 
with greatest attention. Our new-found Aguilar, to 
whom the caciques showed much friendship when 
they learned he could speak their language, advised 



52 The Mastering of Mexico 

them always to respect and revere the holy image 
and the cross we had set up, and they would find that 
they would prove a blessing. 

With all our squadron we came, on the 12th of 
March, to the mouth of the Tabasco, or the Rio de 
Grijalva, and since we already knew from our ex- 
perience with Grijalva that no vessel of large size 
could enter the river, we anchored the larger out at 
sea, and with the smaller ships and boats carried our 
men up the river to the point where the palm trees 
grew. Those of us who had not been with Grijalva 
were greatly astonished to see the thickets along the 
river bank swarming with Indians. Besides these, 
to attack us more than twelve thousand warriors had 
assembled in Tabasco — the town being a chief town 
with others subject to it. The reason they were 
making ready for war was that the people of Chan- 
poton and other towns of that neighborhood looked 
upon the Tabascans as cowards for having given their 
gold trinkets to Grijalva the year before, and they 
told them they had been too lily-livered to attack us, 
though they had more warriors than the people of 
Chanpoton, who had fought us and killed fifty-six 
of our men. Such taunts as these led the Tabascans 
to take up arms against us. 

Through our interpreter, Aguilar, Cortes asked 
some Indians who were passing in a canoe what all 
this disturbance meant, and he added that we had not 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 53 

come to do them harm, but to treat them like broth- 
ers and share our things with them; we prayed them, 
therefore, not to begin a war they would regret. The 
more Aguilar talked, however, the more insolent the 
natives became, saying they had fortified their town 
with log barriers and stockades, that they would not 
permit us to take in fresh water and, if we passed 
beyond the palm trees, they should kill us. When 
Cortes found he could not have peace, he commanded 
the small vessels and boats made ready for battle, 
with three cannon and divisions of crossbowmen and 
musketeers in each boat. 

Early next morning, after we had armed ourselves 
and said our prayers, Cortes ordered Alonzo de 
Avila with one hundred soldiers, among whom were 
ten crossbowmen, to go by a narrow path leading to 
the town, and as soon as they heard the firing of 
guns to attack the town on one side while we attacked 
on the other, Cortes himself at the same time moving 
up the river with the rest in boats and the small ships. 

Meanwhile banks and thickets filled with warriors 
who were armed with their various weapons and 
making a horrible din by blowing their twisted shells 
and fifes and beating drums. Since Cortes wished 
to follow exact form in all he did, he now called us 
to halt and once more, through Aguilar, the king's 
notary witnessing, he asked the Indians to permit us 
peaceably to take in fresh water, and speak to 



54 The Mastering of Mexico 

them of God and the king; and he added that if they 
attacked us, and we defending ourselves killed any 
of them, the guilt would be on their heads, not on 
ours. 

For answer they shot their arrows off so quickly, 
drums signaling other troops should attack us, that 
many of us were at once wounded. Much mud and 
swamp was before us and we could not easily defend 
ourselves from arrows and lances. Cortes himself 
in the contest left one shoe in the mire. But by hard 
work we finally got to dry land, and with the cry of 
" Santiago " * fell so furiously upon our assailants 
that they retreated behind their log walls. Stoutly 
fighting our way we forced a passage into the town, 
and then through the streets to fresh defences they 
had built. Alonzo de Avila and his troops, who had 
been detained by the swamps, came up at this junc- 
ture, and our united forces now drove the Indians 
from their stronghold. Like the brave warriors they 
were, however, they kept shooting arrows and darts 
hardened by fire, and they did not turn their backs 
until we had gained a large courtyard with rooms, 
halls and three temples adjoining. 

Here Cortes ordered us to halt and take formal 
possession of the land in the name of the king of 
Spain. The way he did this was by drawing his 
sword and as sign of possession making three deep 

• St. Jacob, or James. 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 55 

cuts In a huge silk-cotton * tree which stood In the 
courtyard, and crying at the same time that if any 
should dispute It he would defend the possession of 
this country with sword and shield. Thereupon all 
of us present cried out that he did right In taking 
possession In the king's name and we would aid him 
In defence of the right. Of our number followers 
of Diego Velasquez alone found fault, and that be- 
cause the governor's name was not included in the 
act. 

In this attack the Indians had wounded fourteen of 
our men (I being one who had got an arrow in the 
thigh), and in the water we found eighteen of their 
dead. With sentinels posted we slept in the court- 
yard that night. The next morning, when Cortes 
wished to use as Interpreter the Indian we had taken 
and taught and named Melchlor In baptism, he was 
nowhere to be found. We conjectured that he had 
run off the night before with the people of Tabasco, 
because we found his Spanish clothes hanging In a 
tree In the palm grove. So In fact it proved, for that 
day, when two of our chief officers went out with 
companies to explore the country, vast numbers of 
Indians fell upon them and killed and wounded a few 
of our men. One of the prisoners of that day, when 

* The Borabax Ceiba grows to gigantic proportions in tropical 
America, sometimes sending to a height of one hundred feet a 
column-like shaft twenty-five to thirty feet in circumference, and 
then throwing out many horizontal branches. 



56 The Mastering of Mexico 

Aguilar asked him what madness led them to attack 
us, told us that Melchior had come to their camp the 
night before and counseled them to fall upon us and 
fight us night and day, for, he said, we were so few 
in number that they in the end would conquer. 

As soon as Cortes was sure that the Indians would 
renew their war upon us, he ordered all our horses 
brought ashore, and every one of us, the wounded 
not excepted, to have our arms ready for use. When 
the horses now stepped on land they were very stiff 
and full of fear, they had been so long on shipboard; 
but by the next day they had got back their old liveli- 
ness. The gentlemen who, with Cortes at their 
head, were to fight on horseback were thirteen in 
number. Mesa had charge of the artillery and 
Diego de Ordas of us footsoldiers. 

We formed in order under our ensign early nextj 
day and marched towards some bean fields, whert 
the Indians had attacked our exploring parties. Onj 
account of bogs, which our horsemen could not pass,' 
Cortes took a roundabout course. Our other troops, 
under Diego de Ordas as I said, came up with the 
Indians near a town while they were moving forward! 
in search of us. They had their faces painted white| 
and black, they wore quilted cotton cuirasses about 
their bodies and bunches of feathers on their heads,! 
and they carried huge bows and arrows, lances,] 
shields and broadswords. Among them were slingers 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 57 

of stones and fire-hardened javelins. Their number 
was so vast that they covered the bean fields, and they 
rushed on us hke infuriated dogs. So swift and im- 
petuous was their onset, and such a cloud of arrows, 
stones and javelins did they send, that they wounded 
seventy of our men in a few seconds. However, 
with our muskets and crossbows we did not fail to 
show we could fight, and we cut right and left with 
our swords. We forced them to give ground a little, 
and Mesa with the cannon's aid made terrible havoc 
with their close ranks. But even then we could not 
put them to flight. 

I shall never forget the yelling and whistling they 
set up at every shot we fired, the terrible noise of 
their drums and trumpets and their war-whoop, 
" Alala! alala! " and how they sought to hide their 
losses by throwing dust and rubbish in the air. I now 
said to Diego de Ordas that It seemed to me we 
should charge the enemy, my reason being that I saw 
they were retreating from fear of our swords; but 
Ordas answered that my advice was poor, for there 
were three hundred of the Indians to every one of 
us. My idea, however, was at length carried out, 
and we fell on them so heavily with our swords that 
they retired a short way. 

Just at this time Cortes came galloping up with 
the horse. They had been delayed by the bogs. 
When we, who were in hot pursuit, espied our cav- 



58 The Mastering of Mexico ] 

I 

airy, we attacked with renewed energy. The In- 
dians, busily fighting us toward their faces, did not 
see our horsemen dashing on them from behind, 
spearing them in their fine and rapid galloping and 
finally forcing them to face about. They had never 
seen a horse before, and could not think other than 
that our good riders and their powerful, fiery animals 
were one body. Astounded at so strange a sight, they 
took to flight. M\ 

Under trees which stood on the field of battle we 
then thanked God with uplifted hands for giving us 
so complete a victory. After this we rested and ban- 
daged the wounds of our men and buried the two 
who had been killed, one shot in the neck and the 
other in the ear. Our fighting had lasted about an 
hour and over eight hundred of the Indians lay dead 
on the battle field, and others wounded. 

In an account of this battle a historian, Gomara, 
says that before the coming of Cortes the holy apos- 
tles Santiago and San Pedro galloped up to our aid 
on a grey horse. I say that for the work of our arms 
and our victory we stand indebted to our Lord, and 
that in this battle every man of us was set upon by 
so many of the enemy that if each had merely thrown 
a handful of dust upon us, we should, but for the 
mercy of God, have been buried. It may be that the 
two glorious apostles, Santiago and San Pedro, did 
come to our assistance. Perhaps on account of my 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 59 

sins I was not worthy to behold them. What I, 
Bernal Diaz, saw was Francisco de Morla on a chest- 
nut horse coming up with Cortes, and even now, at 
this very moment, while I am writing this, I can see 
again all the battle passing before my eyes, just as I 
relate it; and although I am a sinner not worthy of 
beholding one of the glorious apostles face to face, 
yet I never heard any of the other four hundred sol- 
diers, nor Cortes himself, talk of this wonder. To 
confirm its truth we would have built a church when 
the town was founded, and named it Santiago de la 
Victoria, or San Pedro de la Victoria. If what the 
historian relates were true, then we must have been 
bad Christians when the Lord sent us aid In the per- 
son of his sainted apostles not to show respectful 
recognition of his great favor, and thank him daily 
in a church. I should have great joy if It were as 
the historian relates, but I must confess I never heard 
of this wonder until I read of It in his book, nor have 
I ever heard any of the conquistadores who were 
present at the battle speak of it. 

We took five prisoners, among them two caciques. 
After Aguilar had spoken with them he thought they 
might serve as messengers to their countrymen, and 
having advised Cortes to free them and give them 
glass beads, he told them the battle had been of their 
own seeking, that we wished to treat them as broth- 
ers, and that they had better gather all the caciques 



1 



6o The Mastering of Mexico 

of different towns for a conference of good will. 
They went off with great good feeling, and when they 
had told the chiefs of our wish to be friends, they 
at once sent us fifteen Indian slaves with fowls, baked 
fish and maize bread. Cortes received the slaves 
graciously, but Aguilar, on the contrary, asked an- 
grily why they had come with blackened faces and 
ragged cloaks; if they wished peace, he told them, 
chieftains, not slaves, must come and treat. We, 
however, presented the black faces with beads in 
token of our good will and to soothe their feelings. 

And sure enough, the very next day, above thirty 
of the chief Indians, well clad, brought offerings of 
food, and begged leave to burn and bury their breth- 
ren who had fallen in the battle, so that their bodies 
might not befoul the air or be eaten by lions and 
tigers. When Cortes granted their wish, they has- 
tened to bring many Indians to care for the bodies 
according to their custom. They said, moreover, 
they durst not begin treaty w'ith us, for the next day 
caciques of all the towns would gather to consider 
our offer of peace. 

In due time forty chiefs arrived, each bearing him- 
self well and wearing a cloak richly wrought after 
their fashion. They saluted Cortes and all of us, in- 
censed us with a resin they brought, and begging us 
to pardon their errors promised their friendship for 
the future. In return Cortes gravely reminded them. 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 6i 

through Aguilar, our interpreter, how often he had 
wished to malce peace; how we were vassals of a 
great king, Don Carlos, who had sent us to help and 
favor those who would enter his service, and if they 
were peacefully disposed, as they said, we would help 
them; but if they were not, we were on the point of 
destroying them and all their people, and some of 
the tepustles (they called Iron tepustle) would fly 
out and kill them, for the tepustles were still angry 
because of the attack they made on us. At this mo- 
ment Cortes gave signal for firing our largest can- 
non. The report came like a thunder clap, and we 
could hear the ball whizzing over the hills, for it was 
midday and not a breath of air stirring. The ca- 
ciques were terrified, and believed all Cortes had said 
— who then told Aguilar to assure them that he had 
ordered that no harm should befall them. Cortes 
and the chiefs now fell into a long and lively talk, 
and In the end they left, telling us they would come 
next day and bring a present. 

They did come — the caciques of the Tabasco re- 
gion — and paying reverence to us all, presented four 
gold diadems, some gold lizards, earrings, ducks, 
figures like dogs and masks with Indian faces, two 
sandals with soles of gold and other things of small 
value; also cloaks such as Indians wear. When 
Cortes asked them where they got their gold and 
trinkets, they answered from the country towards the 



62 The Mastering of Mexico 

setting sun, and said, " Colua " and " Mexico " — at 
that time we still did not know what they meant. But 
the gold they brought was nothing to the present of 
twenty women, among them a most excellent lady 
who became a Christian under the name of Marina. 

Cortes received the presents, and by means of 
Aguilar told them he must further ask that they re- 
turn to their dwellings and within two days all the 
people be back again in the town. They at once is- 
sued orders to that end. He also said that our In- 
dian Melchior should be brought to him without fail. 
They answered that he had taken flight when the 
battle turned against them. This, however, was not 
true, for we learned that because his counsel cost 
them so dear they had slain the poor creature in sac- 
ritice. 

With the same readiness they had showed in re- 
calling their families they promised to do away with 
their idols and human sacrifices. When Cortes told 
them, as well as he could, about our holy Christian 
faith, how we worshipped one God, and w'hen he ex- 
plained, showing them an image of Our Lady with 
her blessed Son in her arms, how we paid reverence 
to this figure, the caciques said they liked the looks 
of this great teleciguata (which in their language 
means a woman of distinction) and that they would 
much like to keep her in their town. Cortes prom- 
ised they should have the image and told them to 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 63 

build a good altar for it. This they did at once, and 
two of our carpenters made a high cross. 

When the image of Our Lady and the cross were 
set up on the altar we all paid our reverence there, 
and Padre Fray Bartolome de Olmedo said mass, 
the caciques being present, and we gave the name of 
Santa Maria de la Victoria to the town of Tabasco. 
With the aid of Aguilar, the friar also spoke many 
excellent things about our blessed religion to the 
twenty women, telling them not to believe in, and no 
longer offer sacrifices to, their idols, but to worship 
and adore the Lord. At once they were baptized. 
I can not now call to mind their names, but one was 
Donna Marina, a woman of distinction in bearing, 
good looking, intelligent and born a ruler over towns 
and peoples. How she came to be in such a condi- 
tion happened in this wise : 

Her father and mother were caciques of a town 
which held other towns subject. When she was still 
a little girl her father died and her mother married 
another cacique. Later a son was born, and the 
father and mother had so great affection for the 
younger child, and so wished to have him succeed 
after their death to their honors, that they secretly, 
in night-time, gave the little girl to some natives liv- 
ing at a distance, and then spread the rumor that she 
had died; which report gained further credit from 
the fact that a daughter of one of their slaves did 



64 The Mastering of Mexico 

die at the time, and they pubHshed that the dead girl 
was their daughter and heir. The Indians to whom 
they gave the girl did not keep her, but passed her 
to the people of Tabasco, and they, as we see, to 
Cortes. 

In our conquest of New Spain this woman was a 
most valuable help. Through her only, under the 
protection of God, did we accomplish many things. 
Without her we never should have understood the 
Mexican language. She knew the language common 
to Mexico and the language of Tabasco. Aguilar 
merely understood the language of Yucatan. Donna 
Marina, therefore, would first make facts understood 
to Aguilar, who would translate what she said into 
Spanish. It came to pass that she had the most ex- 
tensive influence in New Spain and did with the In- 
dians what she pleased. 

The five days we stayed in this place, partly to 
cure our wounds, Cortes used to draw the caciques 
to him by kindly talks, telling them of our king and 
the advantage they would gain in obedience to him, 
and, as to the future, whatever might be their needs, 
if they would let him know, no matter where he 
might be, he would come to their aid. For this 
promise the caciques — the first of the peoples of 
New Spain to submit to his power — thanked him 
and solemnly declared themselves vassals of our 
great emperor. 




Donna Marina had a most extensive influence in New Spain, 
and the Indians obeyed her without question. 



J 



Aguilar and Donna Marina 65 

The next day was Palm Sunday and, as Cortes 
had ordered, all the chiefs with their wives and chil- 
dren came to the courtyard where we had set up the 
altar and cross and had cut palm branches to carry in 
our procession. Here the Indians stood looking on 
while Cortes with officers and all our men marched 
in reverence, and two of our priests, in full canon- 
icals, said mass and we prayed before and kissed the 
cross. The caciques drew nearer after this cere- 
mony and offered Cortes ten fowls, baked fish and 
all kinds of greens, and he commended to their care 
the image of Our Lady and the cross, adding that if 
they kept the chapel clean, and the cross decked with 
garlands, they would then have the blessings of 
health and plentiful harvests. 



CHAPTER V 

Of reachin,^ San Juan de Ulua, and what Montezuma did 
for and against us. 

Monday morning we set sail, and, keeping close 
to the shore, steered for San Juan de Ulua. As we 
sped along in the fine weather those of us who had 
been with Grijalva and knew the coast would point 
out to Cortes such places as Tonala, which we called 
San Antonio, and further on the great river of Coat- 
zacoalcos, and still further the lofty, snow-crested 
mountains, and then those of San Martin. We 
showed him, too, the river Alvarado, and after we 
made further way the Banderas, where we had gained 
the sixteen thousand dollars in barter, and the Island 
of the Sacrifices, where we found the Indian victims, 
and at last, with all our fleet, we came to San Juan 
de Ulua a little after midday on Thursday. 

Our pilot, having been there with Grijalva, remem- 
bered the harbor and brought our ships to anchor 
where they would be safe from northers. We had 
scarcely lain half an hour when Indians in two 
canoes made straight for our flagship, and climbing 
aboard asked for the tlatoan, which in their tongue 

66 



What Montezuma Did for Us 67 

means chief. When Donna Marina understood 
their question and pointed to Cortes, the Indians 
turned and paid him respect after the Indian fash- 
ion and bade him welcome. Their master, they said, 
served the great Montezuma and had sent them to 
learn what sort of men we were and what we came 
to their country to seek, and if we would tell them 
what need our ships had, they would provide for it. 
Through our two interpreters, Donna Marina and 
Aguilar, Cortes thanked them for their kindness and 
offered them food and blue glass beads, and after 
they had eaten he told them we had come to get ac- 
quainted and open up trade with them, and our com- 
ing should cause them no anxiety for we had no in- 
tention of doing them injury. Upon this the In- 
dians returned well content to shore. The next day 
we disembarked horses and guns, and our artillery- 
man. Mesa, placed our guns in most favorable posi- 
tion on the sand dunes. We set up an altar also, and 
built huts for Cortes and the officers and three hun- 
dred of the soldiers, many Indians helping, for the 
next day they came and with their axes dressed the 
wood used for the huts, adding large cloths to spread 
over the roofs to keep out the heat, which was al- 
ready great. They also brought plums, nice and 
ripe, fowls and maize bread, and gold trinkets, which 
Cortes joyfully received and gave in turn toys, with 
which they were uncommonly pleased. They said 



68 The Mastering of Mexico 

their governing cacique would come next day and 
bring more food. 

On Easter the governing cacique did appear. His 
name was Teuhtlilh, a man of large affairs, and with 
him was another chief. Numbers of Indians bear- 
ing presents of fowls and greens followed, but 
Teuhtlilli told these to stand back while he walked 
towards Cortes and, after the Indian custom, made 
him three reverential bows, which he repeated to us 
who stood nearest. Cortes, embracing both ca- 
ciques, bade them welcome and asked them to wait a 
little. Meanwhile he ordered the altar to be 
trimmed and our men assembled for service before 
it. Both caciques looked on and afterwards dined 
with Cortes and several officers. 

When the tables had been cleared, Cortes, aided 
by our two interpreters. Donna Marina and Aguilar, 
explained to the Mexicans that we were Christian 
subjects of the most powerful ruler on earth, who 
had commanded us to come to this country because 
he had heard of the great cacique who governed 
it; that for himself, Cortes wished to be their mon- 
arch's friend, and he had many things to disclose, 
which, when he heard, would delight him; with 
friendly understanding he wished to trade, too, and 
he wanted to know where their mighty monarch lived 
so that he might meet and confer with him. 

To this Teuhtlilli answered with pride, " Since you 



What Montezuma Did for Us 69 

have just arrived, it would be more fitting, before 
you say you wish to meet him, that you accept this 
present we have brought you in our monarch's name, 
and then tell me what you wish." Saying this he 
took from a chest many gold trinkets, beautifully and 
skilfully wrought, besides packages of white cloth 
made of cotton and worked with feathers, and many 
other things; and he also added quantities of tur- 
keys, baked fish and fruit. 

Cortes accepted all with gracious smiles and gave 
in return glass beads and other things we had 
brought from Spain. And he begged the caciques 
to tell their people to come and trade with us, for we 
had beads and other things to exchange for gold. 
He then had brought an arm-chair, Inlaid and 
carved, some twisted glass beads, a necklace of imi- 
tation pearls, a scarlet cap with a medal representing 
Saint George on horseback and slaying the dragon, 
and he told TeuhtliUi that he presented the chair to 
the great Montezuma so that he, Cortes, might sit 
in it when he visited him, and the cap was for his 
wear, but that all the other things were presents from 
our mighty king to their monarch, and that now he 
should tell us where and when he, Cortes, might see 
him. TeuhtliUi, accepting the presents, said his 
master was so powerful a monarch that he would be 
pleased to know our king, and he would carry the 
present to him at once and bring back answer. 



70 The Mastering of Mexico 

With him TeuhtliUi brought very clever painters, 
such as they had in Mexico, and to show the great 
Montezuma what we were Hke he commanded the 
painters to picture true to facts Cortes and all the 
chief officers, the soldiers, also, and the ships 
and horses. Donna Marina and Aguilar, even our 
two dogs, the cannon and balls — in short, every- 
thing they saw belonging to us. Alvarado and other 
horsemen, Cortes now advised, should tie bells to 
their horses and mount and gallop at full speed be- 
fore the caciques. Our captain himself mounted and 
said, " It would be a capital thing if we could gallop 
across these sand dunes, but they would see that we 
stick in the sand. When the tide is low let us go out 
to the beach and gallop two by two." Alvarado led 
on his spirited and very swift sorrel mare, while the 
Mexicans looked on. 

Then our gunners loaded the cannon with an un- 
usually heavy charge of powder, so as to give volume 
of sound when they fired, and Cortes, making as if 
he would speak to the caciques, took them and a num- 
ber of chieftains where they might have good view 
of the firing. The air was very still when the can- 
non went off, and the stone balls went crashing along 
the sand dunes and echoes repeated the din. The 
Indians were terribly startled and ordered their 
painters to paint that, too, that Montezuma might 
see. 



What Montezuma Did for Us 71 

Then, again, one of our men had a helmet, partly 
gilt, which Teuhtlilli, who was more intelligent than 
his comrades, thought, when his eye fell on it, was 
much like one held in inheritance from their fore- 
fathers and now used to adorn the head of their idol, 
Huitzilopochtli in the city of Mexico. Montezuma, 
he said, would be uncommonly pleased If he could see 
that casque. Cortes ordered it given them and said 
if they would send him the casque full of gold grains 
he would send it to our great emperor. Upon this 
Teuhtlilli, protesting his friendship, took leave and 
said he would speedily return. 

This Mexican cacique was not only a statesman, 
he was a nimble walker, and he went in all haste to 
Mexico and told the monarch what he had seen and 
heard, and showed him the pictures which the artists 
had painted, and also our presents. Montezuma 
gazed with astonishment and listened with pleasure. 
But when he saw the helmet, and compared it with 
that on the Idol, Huitzilopochtli, he no longer 
doubted that we belonged to the race which, his fore- 
fathers had prophesied, should some day come and 
rule their country. 

Six or seven days after he had left us, Teuhtlilli 
returned one morning with more than one hundred 
Indians heavily laden, and also accompanied by a 
Mexican cacique, who In face, form and carriage 
bore so strong a likeness to our commander that 



72 The Mastering of Mexico 

Montezuma had purposely chosen him as ambassa- 
dor; for, it was said, when TeuhthlH showed the 
picture representing Cortes, all the chiefs who were 
in Montezuma's company declared that it looked ex- 
actly like Quintalbor, and that was the name of the 
ambassador who now came with Teuhtlilli. 

When all these people arrived and came before 
Cortes, they first touched the ground at his feet with 
the forefinger of the right hand and then raised it to 
the mouth, and then they incensed him and all stand- 
ing about him with resin they burnt on pans of clay. 
Cortes received them most kindly and asked them to 
sit by his side. Both ambassadors then told him he 
was most welcome to their country, and after other 
courteous speeches they set out the presents they had 
brought, spreading them on cotton cloths laid on 
mats. 

The first present was a round plate, about the size 
of a cart wheel, of the finest gold and most beautiful 
workmanship, representing the sun with many sorts 
of pictures. Those who afterwards weighed It said 
it was worth more than ten thousand dollars. An- 
other round plate, even larger, was of brilliant sil- 
ver in imitation of the moon, with rays and other 
figures on it. This also was of great value. The 
third present was the helmet filled with grains of pure 
gold, just as they had got it out of the mines, and 
this was worth about three thousand dollars; but 



What Montezuma Did for Us 73 

really it was more to us than ten times that, for it 
told us there were rich mines in the country. Among 
the other things were twenty ducks of gold, looking 
exactly like living birds and beautifully worked, and 
other figures wrought In shape of lions, tigers, dogs 
and monkeys, ten gold chains of most splendid work- 
manship, twelve arrows and a bow with strings, and 
two staffs five palms long — such as are used by jus- 
tices, all cast of purest gold. Then there were crests 
of gold and silver mounted with beautiful green 
feathers, and fans similarly wrought — in short, 
such a number of objects that I can not now remem- 
ber all, and it Is useless to try to describe them, for 
I do not know how to do it. There were alone thirty 
packages of beautiful cotton cloth of various pat- 
terns and inwrought with colored feathers. 

When they had presented all this magnificence the 
ambassadors begged Cortes to accept it in the same 
friendship in which their monarch gave, and to divide 
the things among his teules, or gods, and men. Mon- 
tezuma, they said, was much pleased with the coming 
of such valiant men as fame of our doings at Ta- 
basco said we were, and he wished to see our great 
emperor to whom he would send a present of pre- 
cious stones. Btit as for Cortes' coming to see him, 
we should dismiss the thought, for there was no need 
of such a journey and It would be fraught with dan- 
gers. 



74 The Mastering of Mexico 

With thanks for what they had brought, Cortes 
gave them out of our poverty a glass cup of Floren- 
tine make picturing trees and a hunting scene, a cou- 
ple of holland shirts, some blue glass beads and other 
trifles, and begged them to go back to the great 
Montezuma and tell him that we had come from 
far-away lands, and over vast seas, solely to pay him 
our respects, and if we should return without doing 
this, our mighty king would not receive us kindly. 
He wished, therefore, to go to their monarch, wher- 
ever he might be, and himself receive his com- 
mands. The ambassadors answered that they would 
repeat this to* their master, but any endeavor after 
an interview would be fruitless. With their follow- 
ers the two then set out, while other Indians re- 
mained to bring us food from neighboring towns. 



CHAPTER VI 

How suspicion and dissent arose; how we chose Cortes 
captain general and chief justice, and founded Villa 
Rica de la Vera Cruz. 

The Indians who stayed behind to look after our 
food soon ceased their efforts, and we so suffered 
from hunger, for our cassava bread had become 
mouldy and swarmed with weevils, that we should 
have had nothing to eat if we had not hunted shell 
fish. Those of the natives who had come freely 
bringing gold and fowls to barter for our goods, now 
became shy and reserved. We anxiously awaited the 
return of the messengers from Mexico. 

After some days Teuhtlilli appeared with many 
followers. They paid us respect by incensing us 
after their manner, and then they brought forth their 
presents — ten packages or loads of cloth richly 
worked with feathers, four chalchihuites (green 
stones which the Mexicans think most excellent of its 
kind and hold at greater value than we hold the em- 
erald), and all kinds of gold trinkets of which the 
gold alone was worth about three thousand dollars. 
The four rich stones, they said, should be sent to our 
emperor, for each was of more value than a load of 

75 



76 The Mastering of Mexico 

gold. F"or the rest, they reported that their mon- 
arch, Montezuma, had accepted and was pleased with 
our present, but as to a personal interview between 
him and Cortes, no more was to be said about it. 

Although it was a disappointment to Cortes that 
his visit should be refused so dryly, still he thanked 
the messengers, and turning to some of us who were 
standing near said, " This Montezuma must be a 
great and rich prince, and some day, God willing, 
we shall visit him in his palace." " We only wish," 
the hungry soldiers answered, " that we were living 
with him now." 

All this happened at the hour of Ave Maria, and 
at the sound of the bell we gathered before a cross 
set on a sand hill and said our prayers. While we 
were kneeling Teuhtlilli asked why we so humbled 
ouselves before that piece of wood. At once Cortes 
turned to Padre de Olmedo, who was there. " This 
is a good opportunity, sir," he said, " to tell of our 
holy religion through our interpreters "; and he pro- 
ceeded to speak in a manner that would have done 
credit to a good theologian. First he explained that 
we were Christians. Then explaining the substance 
of our belief, he told them that their gods were not 
good but evil spirits which fled from the presence of 
the cross. He said much else that was edifying, 
which the Indians understood and answered that they 
would relate them to their monarch, Montezuma. 



Why We Chose Cortes Captain 77 

Also, said Cortes, among the great reasons which 
had led our emperor to send us here, one was to in- 
duce them to give up their idols and the stealing of 
children and the human sacrifice they practised before 
their idols. He therefore begged them to set up 
in their towns and temples a cross like this they saw 
before them, and an image of Our Lady with her 
most excellent Son in her arms, and our God would 
bless them. In short, Cortes spoke with admirable 
feeling and argument which I am not able to report 
and must therefore leave In my pen. 

With Teuhtlilli came many Indians who wished to 
barter articles of low grade gold. So we set about 
trading and in this way got means to pay our sailors 
for catching fish — otherwise we had not food to stay 
our hunger. Although he was secretly pleased with 
our barter, Cortes pretended not to see what we were 
doing till those among us who were friends of Diego 
Velasquez asked him why he suffered such a thing, 
that Diego Valesquez did not send the expedition 
that the soldiers might put gold In their pockets. 
Moreover, It ought to be proclaimed that no one but 
Cortes should, for the future, be permitted to bar- 
ter for metal, and for all gold already In the soldiers' 
possession every one should render account that the 
king's fifth might be taken. A treasurer also should 
be appointed. 

In all this Cortes confessed they were right, but 



yS The Mastering of Mexico 

after they had chosen a treasurer he showed his real 
intentions and said with a heavy frown on his brow, 
" You see, gentlemen, how hard our comrades fare 
from want of food. To this moment, because the 
amount of gold was but a trifle, I overlooked their 
bartering that they might find something to eat. You 
have wished that the order be issued that there be 
no more bartering for gold. We have next to see 
what we shall get to eat." 

Now it happened that one fine morning we woke 
up to find those Indians, who had stayed near us and 
had brought gold for barter, had secretly left. Later 
we learned that Montezuma had sent orders forbid- 
ding all conversation with Cortes and his company. 
For he was much attached to his idol-gods, Tez- 
catlipoca, god of hell, and Huitzilopochtli, god of 
war, to whom he every day sacrificed young children 
that the gods might make clear to him what he should 
do about us. And now they had told him not to lis- 
ten to Cortes, nor to the message about setting up a 
cross and image of Our Lady. His plan was, if we 
would not sail away, to make us prisoners and use 
some of us to educate children and others for sac- 
rifice. 

We now had the reason the Indians left our camp 
secretly, and expecting daily that they would make 
war on us, we kept close watch. In these days I with 
another soldier was stationed at a lookout on the 



Why We Chose Cortes Captain 79 

sand hills, when we saw five Indians walking towards 
us along the beach. Not to alarm the camp need- 
lessly, we allowed them to come up. They ap- 
proached with smiles, made their salutes after their 
fashion, and signed that we should take them to our 
camp. In their underlips they had made large holes 
in which they wore pieces of stone speckled blue, or 
thin plates of gold, and holes in their ears were still 
larger and bore like adornments. They looked 
quite different in dress from the Mexicans Monte- 
zuma had sent to our camp, and when I presented 
them to Cortes neither Aguilar nor Donna Marina 
could understand what they said. When Donna 
Marina asked, however, if there were Interpreters 
among them, two said they understood the Mexican 
speech, adding that their chief had sent them to bid 
us welcome and ask who we were and he would be 
glad to be of use to such brave men as we. They 
would have come to us before, the Interpreters went 
on. If they had not shunned as villains the people of 
Colua, that Is, the Mexicans, who they knew had 
been with us and now had left us. These facts 
taught Cortes a thing of Importance, namely, that 
Montezuma had many enemies. Our captain gave 
the five men presents and asked them to say to their 
chief that he would shortly pay him a visit. 

I have already said that we were very short of 
provisions and our cassava bread foul with worms. 



8o The Mastering of Mexico 

Moreover, so many mosquitos swarmed on the sand 
dunes where we were camped that we could get no 
sleep because of them. No wonder, then, that those 
of our number who had Indians in the island of 
Cuba wished to go home. This was particularly the 
case with the friends and onhangers of Velasquez. 
Cortes, observing all this, gave orders that we should 
go to Quiahuitztlan, a walled town, which one of 
our exploring ships had seen some miles to the north. 

While preparations were making for our start, 
friends and adherents of Diego Velasquez asked 
Cortes how we were to make the journey without 
provisions, seeing it was impossible to go further by 
sea; that already thirty-five of our soldiers had died 
from wounds received at Tabasco and from sickness 
and hunger; that the country we were now in was a 
large one, its peoples many, and no doubt they would 
soon attack us. How much better, they said, for us 
to go back to Cuba and account to Diego Velasquez 
for the gold he had gained, which w^as really a large 
sum when all the precious things Montezuma sent 
were counted. 

Still Cortes answered that he did not think it wise 
to go back without having seen the country. Up to 
this time, he said, we had no reason to complain of 
our ill-luck; rather we should give thanks to God 
who had everywhere lent us aid; if we had lost men, 
that always happened in war and hardships. We 



Why We Chose Cortes Captain 8i 

should explore the country more thoroughly, and we 
must make shift for the time being to get and eat 
the maize the Indians had. By such reasonings 
Cortes seemingly quieted the partisans of Diego 
Velasquez. But they still held secret meetings and 
set on foot plans to bring about our return to Cuba. 

Cortes on his part was no less active, for he had 
determined to be appointed captain general. I was 
drawn into the affair in this wise : One night Puer- 
tocarrero and Escalante, in company with Lugo, who 
was born in the same town with me and to whom I 
was related, came about midnight to my hut and said, 
" Bernal Diaz, take your arms and come out. We 
are making the rounds." I joined them, and 
when we were at a little distance from my hut they 
began, " We want to tell you something of greatest 
importance, but you must keep it secret and see to it 
that none of the Velasquez clique, who mess with 
you, find it out. We are of opinion that Cortes is 
not doing the right thing for us. In Cuba he pro- 
claimed that he was going to found a colony, and 
now we find he has no power to do so, but only to 
barter for gold and then go back to Cuba with what 
we have gained. Now if Cortes does all this, we 
are ruined men, for Diego Velasquez will act just 
as he did before, pocket the gold. Think a moment, 
sir. This is the third time that you have come to 
this country, spent all you had and risked your life 



k 



82 The Mastering of Mexico 

in battle and suffered wounds and hardships — and 
all for nothing. Such conditions must not go on. 
We gentlemen, friends of yours and all, count such 
a number that we must insist that Cortes in the name 
of our king founds a settlement here, and we make 
it known to his majesty in Spain. Promise that you 
will vote with us. You will do a service to God and 
our king. We have united to elect Cortes our cap- 
tain general." In return I said I did not think it 
wise to go back to Cuba and I was quite ready to 
agree to elect Cortes general and chief justice until 
the king should order otherwise. 

This agreement passed round from soldier to sol- 
dier, and the Velasquez clique, who were more in num- 
ber than we, finally got wind of it. Then they went 
to Cortes and boldly asked him why he was Intriguing 
to form a settlement in this country and shirking his 
duty instead of going to Cuba and rendering account 
to Diego Velasquez. His plottings were useless, 
they declared, for he had neither men nor supplies, 
nor any other outlook necessary for founding a set- 
tlement. Cortes answered, without a shadow of irri- 
tation, that he was quite of their opinion, and he 
had not the remotest intention of going against the 
wishes and instructions of Diego \'clasquez; and he 
straightway gave orders that all should embark the 
next day, each in the ship that brought him. 

When those of us who had agreed upon his elec- 



Why We Chose Cortes Captain 83 

tion heard this, we said that Cortes had deceived us 
and done wrong, for in Cuba he had proclaimed that 
he was going to form a settlement, and now it was 
evident he had come only to trade. We begged of 
him not to break his word, but to further the great- 
est service to God and the king and found a colony. 
The natives, he declared, would never again let us 
land. But if a settlement were once established, sol- 
diers from all the islands would flock to help us; 
Diego Velasquez had deceived us when he said he 
was empowered by the king to found colonies. 

At first Cortes refused to comply with our wishes 
and only after much begging agreed, stipulating that 
we should make him chief justice and captain gen- 
eral, and, what was worse for us, that a fifth part of 
the gold which remained after the royal fifth had 
been subtracted, should fall to him. In the presence 
of the king's notary, Godoy, we formally gave him 
these powers, and at once set to work to found a 
town which we called Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, 
because we landed on the Friday of the Cross and 
the country was rich. As soon as the first stone of 
the town was laid, we appointed mayors and magis- 
trates, with Juan de Escalante as governor. 

When they found that we had elected Cortes our 
captain general and chief justice, the Velasquez 
clique were so furious that they roundly abused 
Cortes and those of us who had chosen him. Their 



84 The Mastering of Mexico 

anger rose to such a pitch that we feared it would 
lead them to blows. At this juncture Cortes secretly 
told Escalante that we should demand the instruc- 
tions he had received from Velasquez. This Esca- 
lante did, and Cortes drew the documents from his 
waistcoat and handed them to the royal secretary to 
read. The words, sure enough, were, " As soon as 
you have bartered for as many things as possible, 
you shall return." We asked Cortes that these in- 
structions be attached to the deed recording the 
power we had given. 

But even this did not silence the friends and on- 
hangers of Velasquez, for they protested to Cortes 
that his being chosen captain without their consent 
was not right, and they did not wish to remain under 
his orders but to go back to Cuba at once. He an- 
swered that he would compel no one to stay, and if 
any should ask his leave to return he would readily 
grant it, even if at last he remained alone. This 
silenced some. But at last certain of the clique re- 
fused to obey Cortes, and we were forced to seize 
their persons, bind them with chains, and hold them 
prisoners. 

An expedition which had gone out to explore the 
country now returned, every soldier laden with poul- 
try and green things, which, since the people had 
fled, they had taken from deserted towns. We were 
overjoyed with having food — for when a man can 



i 



Why We Chose Cortes Captain 85 

have plenty to eat he forgets half his hardships. At 
this time, too, Cortes was so active, doing all in his 
power to make friends with those of the Velasquez 
clique, even to presenting them gold, that at last they 
became his true friends. 



CHAPTER VII 

Our varying fortunes with the Totonacs of Cempoala and 
Quiahuitztlan; and of our letters to his majesty the king 
of Spain. 

It was now determined that we should set out for 
the fortified town, Quiahuitztlan, which I spoke of 
before. Our ships were at the same time to run 
into a harbor about four miles from the town. We 
marched along the coast and to several towns subject 
to the town of Cempoala, from which came the five 
Indians we had led to Cortes on the sand dunes. In 
these smaller towns we found idol-temples stained 
with blood, and incense pans and other things with 
which they made their sacrifices. But not an In- 
dian. They had never seen men like us before, nor 
horses, and had fled through fear. We were forced 
to go hungry to bed. 

Next day we struck inland, towards the west, and 
now twelve natives, dwellers on the farms where we 
had slept the night before, came towards us, bringing 
fowls and maize bread. The food, they said, their 
cacique had sent for us to eat, and he begged us to 
visit his town, which was one sun, or one day's 

86 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 87 

march, distant. Cortes sincerely thanked them and 
we marched on to another town where, a short time 
before, several human beings had been sacrificed. 
My readers would be horrified, I know, at hearing 
the number of Indian women and men we found 
butchered along every road and in every town we 
passed, and I shall tell my story further without stop- 
ping to mention them. 

Very early next morning Cortes sent six of the 
Indians to the caciques of Cempoala to say that we 
were approaching. We marched in best order, can- 
non and all arms ready for use and every man on 
guard. Not more than three miles from the town 
twenty Indians met us bearing cones of roses of a 
most delicious scent and deep red color, and these 
they gave to Cortes and those of us who were on 
horseback, adding that their cacique awaited us, but 
he was so stout he could not himself come to meet us. 
When Cortes had thanked them we marched into 
the town and were so astonished that we returned 
thanks to God for having allowed us to discover so 
admirable a place. It was larger than we had yet 
met, and like a luxurious garden. The streets were 
full of men and women who had gathered to see us. 
Quarters set apart for us were most comfortable and 
large enough for all. And the food they gave us 
and plums and maize cakes were so plentiful, and 
we were so famished, not having seen so much food 



88 The Mastering of Mexico 

all at once for so long, that we called the town Villa 
Viciosa, or Luxury Town. 

After we had finished our dinner the fat cacique 
sent word to Cortes that he wished to visit him and 
he shortly arrived with other Indian chiefs, each 
wearing gold plates set in their lips and richly 
wrought cloaks. Cortes, receiving them and their 
presents of gold trinkets and cotton stuffs of small 
value, told them, through Donna Marina and Agui- 
lar, of his gratitude. He told also of our king, of 
his commands to us to redress wrongs wherever we 
came and to punish the bad, and he then added much 
about our holy religion. 

The fat cacique sighed deeply when Cortes had 
spoken of evil doers, and complained bitterly of Mon- 
tezuma and the caciques he sent to the provinces as 
governors, telling how their forces had recently sub- 
dued his people and robbed him of all his gold; how 
because the sway of Montezuma was over so vast 
a country and so many peoples and armies, he 
and his people dared not oppose the monarch's or- 
ders. Cortes endeavored to console him, in the end 
saying that he would relieve him of the oppression 
he suffered, after he could consider the matter thor- 
oughly, but now he was on his way to visit his ships 
and to set up headquarters at Quiahuitztlan. 

We left Cempoala the next morning, and the fat 
cacique pleased us very much by sending to our aid 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 89 

four hundred Indian porters — such men as carry 
fifty pounds weight on their backs and march twenty 
miles with it. Before this we had had to carry our 
own knapsacks, but now each of us had a man to 
bear his baggage. Donna Marina and Aguilar told 
us that by the custom of the country the caciques 
were bound, in times of peace, to furnish porters to 
those needing them, and from that time forward, 
wherever we came, we always demanded such 
helpers. 

Next morning but one we entered the fortified town 
of Quiahuitztlan, built amid rocks upon a rocky cliff. 
It would be a difficult town to capture and we, ex- 
pecting the Indians to oppose us, marched towards 
it in best order with cannon in front. But when they 
saw us climbing towards their houses, the people fled 
and we went to the very midst of the town without 
meeting a single native. After we had come to the 
plaza at the top of the fortress where they had their 
idol-houses, we found a small group dressed in good 
cloaks. Bearing pans of burning resin, they incensed 
Cortes and all the soldiers standing near, and begged 
us to pardon them for not going out to meet us. 
They had kept out of the way, they said, for fear of 
us and our horses, and, too, they wanted to know 
what sort of beings we were ; but by night they would 
see to it that all the people had come back to town. 

While Cortes was giving them green glass beads 



90 The Mastering of Mexico 

and a few other trifles we had brought from Spain, 
and was telhng them of our rehgion and our king, 
as we were constantly doing wherever we came, and 
while they were bringing us fowls and maize bread, 
it was announced that the fat cacique of Cempoala 
was approaching, borne in a litter on the shoulders 
of Indian chiefs. When he arrived, the fat cacique, 
together with the chief men of the town, rehearsed 
to Cortes the cruelties and oppressions they had to 
suffer, and they spoke with such sighs and sobs that 
we could not but feel pity. Telling how they had 
been subdued and in many ways sadly ill-used, they 
also related how every year their conquerors de- 
manded many of their sons and daughters for sac- 
rifices and to serve in houses and plantations, and 
how Montezuma's tax collectors carried off their 
wives and daughters, if they were handsome. This 
the victors did, they asserted, throughout the To- 
tonac country of over thirty towns. 

As well as he could by means of our interpreters, 
Cortes consoled them and promised he would put an 
end to such horrors; our king had sent us to their 
country for that purpose and they should soon see 
what we would do for their good. This assurance 
seemed to give them relief, if not wholly to lighten 
their hearts. 

While this discussion was going on Indians came 
to tell the caciques that five Mexican tax collectors 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 91 

had just arrived. When the chiefs heard the news 
they fairly turned pale from fright, and leaving 
Cortes they hastened to receive the Mexicans and to 
have a room decked with flowers, and food, espe- 
cially cacao or chocolate, cooked and served. 

In reaching the house of the cacique it was neces- 
sary for these five Mexicans to go by our quarters, 
and they affected such arrogance and reserve that 
they passed us by without a word. They wore 
richly embroidered cloaks and loin cloths, and their 
hair was combed till it was quite glossy and tied in a 
knot on the head. Each carried sweet-scented roses 
which he was smelling, each also a stick with a hook, 
and each had an Indian with a fan to keep off the 
flies. A company of chief men from neighboring 
towns escorted them to their lodgings. 

As soon as they had dined they sent for the fat 
cacique and other chiefs of the townships and scolded 
them roundly for speaking and dealing with us. Ut- 
tering many threats, they said they should neither 
have sheltered us nor given us any gold without 
Montezuma's permission, and now they must pay 
dearly for what they had done and at once deliver 
for sacrifice twenty Indians, men and women, so that 
the god of war would grant them victory over us. 

Observing how restless every one seemed, Cortes 
asked Donna Marina and Aguilar what it was that 
was happening, and who these strange Indians were. 



92 The Mastering of Mexico 

Donna Marina, understanding fully what had passed, 
told Cortes. Upon this our captain again consoled 
the caciques and bade them take courage, for he 
would punish the Mexicans. They were already 
aware, he explained, that our king had sent him to 
chastise evil doers and to permit neither kidnapping 
nor sacrifice, and this these tax gatherers planned. 
He would, therefore, make them prisoners until their 
master, Montezuma, should learn the reason, namely, 
that they had come to carry into slavery women and 
children and to do other deeds of violence. 

The caciques were thunderstruck. They durst not 
lay hands on taxgatherers of the mighty Monte- 
zuma. But Cortes exhorted them so well that at 
last they took courage and seized the tax men and 
securely fastened them by collars to long poles; and 
one who would not permit them to bind him got a 
flogging in addition. This done, Cortes commanded 
the caciques to pay no more obedience and no more 
tribute to Montezuma — an order not for them 
alone but for all their friendly and allied towns 
where, if other tax gatherers came, those also he 
should make prisoners. 

Rumor of this high-handed order spread through- 
out the country, for the fat cacique lost no time in 
sending messengers to tell the tidings, while the chiefs 
who had accompanied the tax gatherers hastened 
home with the astounding news. Deeds so marvel- 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 93 

lous and of such weight in their life could not have 
been done by mere men, they said to one another, 
but only by teules, which word means in their tongue, 
either gods or demons. From that time onward they 
called us teules; and I beg the reader to bear in mind 
that when I may use the word in my story, in affairs 
connected with our conquest, I refer to us, the Span- 
iards. 

The caciques were of the opinion that we should 
sacrifice the prisoners that they might not go back 
to Mexico and tell what we had done. This Cortes 
forbade, however, and set soldiers on guard; and 
about midnight he called these guards to him and 
said, " Free the two most active and intelligent of 
the prisoners, and bring them to my lodgings. But 
do this in such a way that the Indians of the town 
know nothing about It." 

When the prisoners stood before him, as if he did 
not know that they were Mexicans, our captain asked 
them what country they came from and why they 
were prisoners. They answered that the cacique of 
Cempoala aided by ourselves had seized their per- 
sons. Cortes, however, assured them that he knew 
nothing of the whole matter and regretted it, and 
having had food brought them and talking in kindly 
fashion, he told them to return at once to their lord 
Montezuma and tell him we were his sincere friends. 
Harm might come to them, he added, and so he had 



94 



The Mastering of Mexico 



taken them from prison and would severely repri- 
mand the caciques for seizing them. Moreover, any 
service he could do them he would gladly undertake, 
and he would free and protect their comrades; now, 
however, was the time for them to hasten lest they 
be retaken and killed. Thankful for their liberty, 
the prisoners said they feared they might fall intOj 
their enemies' hands. Therefore Cortes sent si] 
sailors to take them to a boat and set them on 
friendly soil beyond the Cempoala territory. 

When daylight came and the caciques found two] 
prisoners missing, they were all the more determined] 
to sacrifice the three that remained. This the] 
might have done if Cortes had not feigned anger at 
the escape of the two, and, ordering a chain brought] 
from the ships, bound the prisoners to it and sent! 
them on board; where he ordered the chain removed.) 

Caciques of Cempoala, Quiahuitztlan and all the 
other Totonac chiefs now gathered and told Cortes 
the dilemma they were in, for Montezuma wouldl 
soon come down upon them with his vast army and! 
totally destroy their possessions and themselves.] 
Again Cortes replied with cheerful looks that he an( 
his brothers who were here would defend them an( 
any one who dared molest them should forfeit his] 
life. Impressed by this, the caciques, one and all,| 
agreed to stand by us in whatever we ordered thei 
to do, and to join their force to ours against Monte- 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 95 

zuma and his allies. In the presence of the royal 
secretaiy, Godoy, and by formal deed, they pledged 
obedience to his majesty, our king. Messengers 
now bore the news to other towns of the province, 
and when they heard they were no longer to pay trib- 
ute and no longer to suffer the robbery of their fam- 
ilies for sacrifice, the people were almost out of their 
senses from excessive joy. 

Meanwhile report of what had happened reached 
Montezuma in Mexico, and he was so angry that he 
ordered a great army to march against the Totonacs 
and not leave one alive, while he himself determined 
to come against us with unnumbered warriors. Just 
at this moment the two tax gatherers Cortes had 
freed got back, and when Montezuma learned the 
promises our captain had sent, the Almighty softened 
his heart and he resolved to ask what we intended 
to do. To this end he despatched two young neph- 
ews in the charge of caciques of rank, sending with 
them thanks to Cortes for freeing his tax men and 
also a present of gold and cloth. On the other hand 
he made heavy complaints how it was owing to our 
protection that the Totonac people had revolted. 
In our persons, he said, he recognized those who, his 
ancestors had foretold, were coming to his country; 
we must therefore be of his own lineage, but how 
did it happen we were uniting with traitors? 

Cortes embraced the messengers and accepted their 



96 The Mastering of Mexico 

presents, which were worth about two thousand dol- 
lars; and averring that he and all of us were good 
friends of Montezuma, declared that in such a spirit 
he still kept guard over the three tax gatherers — 
whom he sent for from the ships and delivered at 
once. As to the complaint about the people not pay- 
ing tribute, they could not serve two masters at once, 
and they had, during our stay, sworn allegiance to 
our king; but for the rest, we were on our way to 
visit him and when we were once there we could in 
friendly talk arrange these matters. After this con- 
versation Cortes presented the two young men with 
blue and green glass beads, and paid every honor 
to the old caciques; for instance, he had Alvarado 
and other good riders mount their horses and gal- 
lop and manoeuvre before them in a neighboring 
meadow. So the caciques went back to Mexico 
highly gratified. 

This had its effect on our allies in the mountains 
and the people of Cempoala who had stood in such 
awe of the Mexicans. For when they saw kinsmen 
of the great Montezuma coming to us, and bearing 
themselves with marked respect to Cortes and to us 
all, they were astonished more and more and said 
to one another that we clearly must be teules, for 
Montezuma himself stood in fear of us and sent us 
presents of gold. This reasoning of theirs vastly 
augmented our power over them. In days following 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 97 

these we made, at the request of the fat cacique, a 
detour to a fortress town two days' journey, or from 
thirty-two to thirty-six miles from Cempoala. As 
we went forward we found our march a wile of the 
Cempoalans to get us to avenge upon some Mexican 
warriors an ancient enmity of theirs. When Cortes 
learned this we turned about to Cempoala. 

The only wish of the Cempoalans now seemed to 
be that we should remain ever in their country. If 
we left they feared Montezuma would send an army 
to their destruction. They therefore proposed to 
Cortes that, since we were already so close friends, 
we should also become brothers by marrying daugh- 
ters of the caciques. To show their earnestness they 
brought with them eight cacicas, all of them dressed 
In rich garments of their country, each with a gold 
collar about her neck and gold rings in her ears, and 
attended by maids. 

Naturally Cortes thanked the chiefs for their very 
generous wishes. He said, however, that he could 
not look upon them as brothers until they rid them- 
selves of their monstrous idols and human sacrifices. 
Then only could we form a permanent and brotherly 
union with them. Every day, he said, he saw three, 
four or even five Indians sacrificed, their hearts torn 
out of their bodies and offered to their idols, their 
blood smeared over the walls, and their arms and 
legs cut off and eaten, just as in our country we eat 



98 The Mastering of Mexico 

beef bought at the butchers'. All these horrible 
deeds must end, said Cortes, and then we could be 
their friends and make them lords over other coun- 
tries. The caciques and papas answered that it did 
not seem to them loyal to give up their idols and 
human sacrifices, for these gods of theirs gave them 
whatever good they had — good health, good har- 
vests and everything else of which they stood in 
need. 

Cortes and all of us found this answer very unsat- 
isfactory. Their barbarities we could no longer bear 
to look upon, and we spoke together a long time, 
Cortes bringing to our minds many good and holy 
lessons, and saying in conclusion, " We can never ac- 
complish any greater benefit for this people, and for 
the honor of God, than put out of the way sacrifices 
before these idols. The people may rise against us; 
yet even if it costs us our lives, the idols must come 
to the ground." 

The caciques were beside themselves with rage 
when Cortes told them the idols must come down. 
They said if we so insulted their idols we should all 
perish with them. Cortes now lost patience — after 
what he had already several times told them about 
sacrifices and that their monsters were liars and de- 
ceivers, and he said either they or we must tear them 
down at once. He added that we were no longer 
friends, but enemies, and any opposition would cost 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 99 

them their lives. We were all armed, as was our 
wont. 

The Indians turned the question one way and an- 
other. They feared Montezuma's power, which 
might any day fall on them, and they finally answered 
that they were not worthy to lay hands on the idol- 
symbols of their gods and they would never give their 
consent to our doing so ; but if we dared to overthrow 
them they supposed we must. 

The words were scarcely out of their mouths be- 
fore fifty of us were running up the steps of the tem- 
ple. The idols, horrible to look at and shaped half 
like men and half great dog, and about the size of 
young calves, we tore from their foundations and 
sent them tumbling down and crashing in many 
pieces. 

When the caciques and papas beheld the monsters 
in fragments on the ground, covering their eyes they 
set up a howl and prayed their gods to forgive them. 
The blame was not theirs, they cried, but these teules' 
whom they dared not attack for fear of Montezuma. 
This the papas and caciques did, but the warriors 
among them began flying arrows at us. In so serious 
a turn we seized the fat cacique and six papas, and 
Cortes declared that if the attack were not stayed, the 
seven should forfeit their lives. When at last quiet 
reigned Cortes ordered the broken idols completely 
destroyed, whereupon eight papas came out of a 



loo The Mastering of Mexico 

house and carried back the fragments and burned 
them. These priests wore long black, cloaks like 
cassocks that hung down to their feet, and hoods of 
different sizes. Their hair was matted together with 
blood and they smelled most offensively. They were 
the sons of caciques and were forbidden to marry, 
and they fasted on certain days. 

After the idols were out of the way Cortes told 
the caciques we could now look upon them as true 
brothers and give them every powerful aid against 
Montezuma and his Mexicans. He also spoke of 
our religion and set every Indian mason in town at 
work cleaning away the blood and plastering over 
the walls of the temples. This done, he had an altar 
erected and told the Indians to bring many of their 
splendid and sweet-scented roses and green leaves, 
and ever keep the place clean and undefiled. Four 
of the papas he had shorn of their hair and clothed 
in clean garments, and named them to look after the 
place. The very next morning Padre Fray Olmedo 
held services and incensed the holy image of Our 
Lady and the sacred cross with the copal of the coun- 
try. The caciques and others were present. The 
chief ornament of the service, however, were the 
eight Indian damsels brought to be made Christians; 
for after they were instructed about our religion they 
were baptized. 

We now returned to Vera Cruz and set at building 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs loi 

the fort. We got it ready for the roof, and then 
suggested to Cortes that already we had been three 
months in the country and it was now high time for 
us to see what the boasted power of this great Monte- 
zuma might be, and time to try to make an honest 
competence for ourselves. But before we started 
we ought first to send our salutations to our king, 
and give him account of what had happened since we 
left Cuba. In this question we also debated whether 
we should send his majesty all the gold we had bar- 
tered for and received in presents. 

Answering us, Cortes said our ideas exactly agreed 
with his own. In the matter of the gold, however, one 
circumstance made him hesitate, namely, if each man 
took the portion which fell to his share, there would 
be too httle to send. Our wish was, he and some 
men good in business said, to send the king a treas- 
ure, and as it was our first, it ought to be something 
valuable. To make it greater, each of us, they 
thought, ought to give up his share which he had up 
to that moment made. Upon this the soldiers to a 
man signed a paper revoking their portion of the 
gold. The best ship in the fleet, with full supplies 
of stores and fifteen sailors, we chose to convey the 
treasure to Spain. 

With the ship we agreed also to send letters telling 
his majesty of our adventures. In that account, 
drawn up by all the officers and soldiers, we did not 



I02 The Mastering of Mexico 

omit to state that we had been induced to join the 
expedition by promises that we should make settle- 
ments; how Diego Velasquez had secretly instructed 
Cortes to trade and not to settle, and how we had 
compelled Cortes to stay and found a colony. We 
spoke also of our battles, of our interpreters, of the 
riches of the country, its extent, its arts, its religion, 
its people, four of whom we had liberated from a 
wooden cage where they were being fattened for 
sacrifice and feast, and whom we sent for his majesty 
to see. We spoke something of ourselves, too, how 
we were four hundred and fifty armed men in the 
midst of warlike tribes. We begged his majesty to 
show us favor and not confer the command of the 
country upon crown officers. We feared that the 
archbishop, whom his majesty had made president of 
the Council and ruler of the Indies, would give the 
command to some relation or friend, especially to one 
Diego Velasquez, governor of Cuba, because he, 
Velasquez, was always giving the archbishop town- 
ships of Indians to get gold out of mines. As his 
majesty's most faithful servants we begged that he 
confer the command on Cortes, accompanying this 
prayer with praise that raised Cortes to the very 
skies. 

After we had finished the letter Cortes begged us 
to see it, and when he found how true our narrative 
was, and the great praise we had given him, he was 



Of Our Allies the Totonacs 103 

vastly pleased and made us great promises. It were 
better, however, he said, to make no mention of the 
fifth part of the gold we had pledged to him, nor to 
say who were the first discoverers of the country, 
because, we later learned, in his own account he did 
not refer to Cordova and Grijalva, but reserved the 
discovery and the honor and glory of it all to him- 
self. Men were not wanting among us who told him 
it was our bounden duty to leave nothing untold that 
had happened. 

The ship we had prepared sailed on the 26th of 
July, 15 19, and after a prosperous voyage arrived in 
Spain. Our agents waited at once on the archbishop 
and handed him our letters and presents, begging him 
to send them to the king that he might learn every- 
thing as it really had taken place. The archbishop, 
however, received them with harshness and answered 
their request in haughty tones, at last becoming so 
incensed that he threw one of them into prison. 



CHAPTER VIII 

How, having settled to go to Mexico, we destroyed all our 
ships and marched across the mountains; and how after 
fierce battles we came to peace with the people of Tlax- 
cala. 

A CONSPIRACY set on foot by the Velasquez faction 
— a plan to seize a ship and sail away to Cuba — 
Cortes had now to quell. When he had accom- 
plished this, he ran aground all the ships in order to 
leave no source of trouble and possibility of further 
mutiny when we were inland ; we who were his friends 
counselling him not to leave a single ship as source 
of trouble in port. He then set out for Cempoala, 
ordering all the soldiers to meet there and receive 
commands for our march to Mexico. He summoned 
also the caciques of the mountain tribes in revolt 
against Montezuma and told them they must ally 
themselves with us and assist the Spaniards who re- 
mained behind in building the church, fortress and 
houses of Vera Cruz. They readily promised to do 
what might be asked, and we fitted ourselves for the 
march. 

The best road for us to take, our friends of Cem- 
poala agreed, was through the province of Tlaxcala, 

104 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 



105 




^\ 










■^ « 



S§ 




We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 107 

for the Tlaxcalans were their allies and deadly ene- 
mies of the Mexicans. Forty Cempoalan warriors 
had made ready to accompany us — and indeed 
proved of the greatest service to us on the journey 
— and the chiefs sent with us as well two hundred 
porters to convey our cannon. We poor soldiers had 
no need of help for our baggage, for at that time we 
had none other than our weapons, with which we 
marched and slept. We had not even covering for 
our feet except hempen shoes. But we were always 
ready for battle. 

We broke up quarters at Cempoala about the mid- 
dle of August, 1 5 19, and set out, keeping strictest 
order, with scouts and our most active men always 
in advance. The first day we marched to a town 
called Jalapa, and from there to Socochima, a place 
strongly defended by a dangerous approach and hav- 
ing many trained grape vines. In each of the towns 
our interpreters. Donna Marina and Aguilar, told 
about our holy religion and how we were subjects of 
the emperor Don Carlos, who had sent us to put an 
end to kidnapping and human sacrifices. The peo- 
ple, friends with the Cempoalans and paying no 
tribute to Montezuma, we found well inclined to us, 
and they brought us food. In every township we set 
up a cross and explained its meaning to the people, 
and what veneration was its due. 

Continuing from Socochima we passed a high 



io8 The Mastering of Mexico 

mountain through a pass and reached Texutla, where 
again the folk were friendly to us because they re- 
fused to pay tribute to Montezuma. After we left 
this township we finished the ascent of the mountain 
and came to a wild and rugged region where we had 
excessive cold, and the very first night rain and hail. 
Our provisions were all gone and the wind came 
across the snow hills and chilled us till we shook 
with cold. No one can wonder we suffered, for we 
had come suddenly from the climate of Cuba, and 
the hot coast of Vera Cruz, and in a frost-bound 
country had nothing with which to cover ourselves. 
In another pass which we entered we found groups 
of houses and large temples with huge piles of fire- 
wood near for use in the idol-worship. Still there 
was nothing to eat, and the weather was bitterly cold. 
Our march now lay across the land belonging to 
the town of Xocotlan.* We sent on two Cempoalans 
to tell the cacique of our coming and gain a favorable 
reception, but even then we marched in close order 
and always guardful. The town was subject to 
Montezuma and everything looked different. Still, 
we were as much pleased with it as with a Spanish 
town — its gleaming whitewashed balconies, the 
dwellings of its caciques, and its lofty temples wholly 
built of stone and whitened. The chief cacique came 
to meet us, since our messengers had made known our 

* In Aztec names x represents the English sound sh. 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 109 

approach, and he led us to lodgings. He also gave 
us food; but with bad grace. 

As soon as we had eaten, Cortes, through our in- 
terpreters, asked the cacique all manner of questions 
about their monarch Montezuma, and we learned 
much of his strength in warriors stationed in his con- 
quered provinces, and of other armies posted on 
frontiers. The cacique told also of the strong city 
of Mexico, how it lay in the midst of waters and one 
could only pass from house to house by means of 
bridges or canoes; how all houses had flat roofs and 
could be turned into fortresses ; how the city was en- 
tered by three causeways, each with four or five 
openings spanned by as many bridges, and when any 
one of these bridges was raised it was impossible to 
enter the city. Then the cacique told of the stores 
of silver and gold, the precious stones and great 
riches of Montezuma. 

Cortes and all of us marvelled at hearing how great 
a lord Montezuma was, but the more the cacique 
told of the fortress and bridges the more earnestly 
we longed to try our strength against them. Of such 
stuff are Spanish soldiers made. Facts later proved 
Mexico strongly fortified, stronger, indeed, than this 
cacique told us — you had to see it yourself to form 
an idea of it, a description can not tell its strength. 
Our informant added that Montezuma was so pow- 
erful he put anything he chose under his power, and 



no The Mastering of Mexico 

he feared he would not be pleased when he heard 
we had entered and lodged in this township without 
his permission. 

To all this Cortes answered by our interpreters, 
" You must understand that we have come here from 
distant lands at the order of our king, Don Carlos, 
who has many great and powerful princes as his sub- 
jects, and he sent us to command your great Monte- 
zuma not to kindnap or sacrifice Indians, nor to seize 
any more lands, but to obey the comands of our king 
and master. And I declare to you, and the other 
caciques who are with you, that you must stop human 
sacrifices, no longer eat the flesh of your relations, 
and cease all unnatural offences and abominations, 
for such is the will of the Lord God in whom we 
believe, whom we adore and from whom come life 
and death." 

One spot in this town I shall never forget. Near 
a temple I saw piles of human skulls in so regular 
an order that one could count them. I estimated them 
at more than one hundred thousand — I repeat, more 
than one hundred thousand. In another corner of 
the plaza there were dead men's thigh bones, more 
than you could count. Besides these, human heads 
were hanging from beams, and three papas stood 
guard of these bones and heads. Horrible sights 
such as this we saw in every town as we got further 
into the country. 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala in 

Next morning we set out for Tlaxcala, our scouts 
marching always in advance, our muskets loaded, 
the matches lighted, our horsemen in close order, 
in short, ready for action at a moment's notice. Day 
and night we were on guard. At the small town of 
Xalacingo we heard that the whole of Tlaxcala was 
up in arms — thinking that like the Mexicans we 
came to plunder. We at once despatched two chiefs 
of Cempoala to say we hoped they would receive 
us as friends, for we had come as such. We sent 
also a fluffy, red Flemish hat and a letter. We knew 
they could not read the letter, but we thought that 
when they saw the paper unlike their own they would 
understand it bore a message. The Tlaxcalans, 
however, seized and threw into prison our messen- 
gers and we waited in vain for their return. 

Commending ourselves to God, on the third day 
we set out for Tlaxcala, and then met our two men, 
who had got out of their prison by the aid of friends. 
They were stricken with terror at what they had 
seen and heard. " Now we are going to kill those 
you call teules," the Tlaxcalans had said to them. 
" You shall see whether they are as valiant as you 
say. And we shall eat their flesh, and your flesh, 
too." * Say what our delegates might in contradic- 

* " Terrible as such rites may seem to us, it may be taken as 
certain that they were regarded almost with equanimity by the 
Mexicans. Death by sacrifice was considered the normal death 
of a fighting man, and ensured entrance to the paradise of the 



112 The Mastering of Mexico 

tion to this, the Tlaxcalans would not accept the 
truth. 

When Cortes and we others heard these haughty 
words, and how all Tlaxcala was preparing for war, 
we did not think It a light matter. Nevertheless we 
one and all cried, " Since it can not be otherwise, 
forward ! — for good luck I " and unfurling our ban- 
ner we marched on. 

Our only discourse now was how we should attack 
the enemy. You, the reader, may ask why all these 
preparations with the foe not yet in sight? I an- 
swer by repeating Cortes' own words, " Comrades, 
you know how few we are in numbers and how it be- 
hooves us to be on our guard and each moment ready 
for the enemy, not only as if we saw them approach- 
ing, but as if battle had begun. It sometimes hap- 
pens that they seize the lances with their hands. 
For such daring we must be prepared. As to the 
rest, you do not need my advice, for I have found 
that you do much better than I am able to tell you." 

Heartened by discourse such as this, we marched 
about eight miles when we came to a fort strongly 
built of stone, lime and other cement, an entrench- 

Sun. Instances occur where men have deliberately demanded 
death on the sacrificial stone. . . . The very cannibalism which, 
to a limited extent, formed the occasional sequel to human sac- 
rifice, becomes divested of much of its horror when it is remem- 
bered that the rite was, in essentials, an act of communion with 
the deity, with whom the victim was identified." " Mexican 
Archaology," by Thomas A. Joyce. 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 113 

ment so constructed as to make it difficult to capture. 
We halted to inspect the work and Cortes asked the 
villagers for what purpose it stood there. They 
answered that because the great Montezuma was 
continually warring against the Tlaxcalans, they had 
built the fort to protect their territory. We rested 
here, at this entrance to a hostile country, till Cortes 
cried, " Let us follow our standard bearing the sign 
of the cross, gentlemen. Through that we shall 
conquer." To which we one and all returned, 
" Forward! whatever may happen. In God is our 
strength! " 

Continuing our march cautiously, we had not gone 
far before our scouts saw about thirty Indian spies, 
who carried lances, shields, and broad swords edged 
with flint and sharper than ours of steel, and wore 
feathers in their hair. Cortes ordered some of our 
horsemen to try and capture one without wounding 
him. When the thirty found our horsemen coming 
towards them and beckoning to them with their 
hands, they began to retreat slowly and so to mass 
themselves that our men could not capture one. 
They also struck at our horses and wounded them, 
and by this action so heated the blood of our men 
that they killed five of the thirty. Upon this a 
swarm of more than three thousand warriors rushed 
furiously from ambush, pouring a shower of arrows 
and fire-hardened darts upon our horsemen. Our 



114 The Mastering of Mexico 

cannon, which we now fired, forced them to give 
ground, and they, keeping their ranks, retreated. 
F'our of our men were wounded and seventeen of 
the foe lay dead. When we had gone into night 
quarters near a brook we found that they had aban- 
doned their homes at war summons and had carried 
away the dogs which they breed for food. But in 
the night the animals escaped and came back to their 
familiar homes and we caught many. They made 
a rather good supper. 

Next morning, after we had commended ourselves 
to God in prayer, we set out with each company 
marching in close order, our horsemen particularly 
guardful that the foe should not break our ranks 
and divide our company. And as we marched two 
armies of warriors, about six thousand men, came 
up with terrific din of trumpets, drums and yells, 
flying arrows at us, hurling their darts, and conduct- 
ing themselves with every show of valor. Cortes 
now ordered us to halt and he sent forward three 
prisoners of the day before to say that we came to 
them as brothers and wished them to stay hostilities. 
When our three go-betweens began to speak the In- 
dians attacked us the more furiously, so that we could 
not stand idly waiting. " Santiago ! " cried Cortes. 
" On to them! " and in an instant our firearms an- 
swered so sharply that numbers were killed and 
wounded. 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 115 

They now retired to some ravines where forty 
thousand warriors, all wearing his red and white 
colors, lay in ambush with their general in chief, 
Xicotenga. The ground of the ravine was uneven 
and our horsemen were useless in the passage of it, 
while the enemy plied us with arrows, lances and 
stones; but when we had gained level ground we 
paid them back richly. We dared not break our 
ranks, for the instant any soldier left the formation 
he was set upon and wounded. Then, too, we had to 
keep close together in order not to be cut off. We 
could do little contending with twenty different di- 
visions and completely surrounded. And then the 
Indians kept constantly trying to blind us by throw- 
ing handfuls of sand in our faces. It was pretty hot 
work. 

But shoulder to shoulder we pushed forward and 
saved ourselves from defeat. One of their objects 
was to capture one of our horses, and in this they did 
not fail, for as Pedro de Moron on his well trained 
mare was charging with three other horsemen, the 
Indians wrenched the lance out of his hand and gave 
his mare such a terrific cut with a broadsword that 
she fell dead. We saved Moron, whom they were 
dragging away half killed, but the mare we had to 
let go, cutting her girths in order to save the saddle. 
They carried her off and afterwards cut her in pieces 
to show in the towns of Tlaxcala, and we learned that 



ii6 The Mastering of Mexico 

they offered to their idols her shoes, along with the 
red Flemish hat and the letter we had sent. 

We had fought for a good hour. Every man had 
done his duty. On this second day of September, 
15 19, we had been in greater jeopardy than ever be- 
fore, and now as our enemy retreated we could 
hardly stand from over-fatigue. We gave hearty 
thanks to God who had delivered us from such peril, 
and fell back to some temples, which were strong and 
lofty. Posting patrols and scouts, we dressed the 
wounds of our men and horses, made a good supper 
off dogs and poultry and lay down to rest and sleep 
until morning. We never could discover how many 
Tlaxcalans we had slain and wounded, for it is their 
custom to carry any Indian off the field as soon as he 
is hurt or dead. 

The next we made a day of rest, laying in a stock 
of arrows and repairing our crossbows. Cortes said 
it would do no harm if our horsemen should gallop 
up and down the country a little, otherwise the Tlax- 
calans might think we had had enough of fighting. 
Of the Indians we had captured, two we set at lib- 
erty to tell the chief of the Tlaxcalans that we merely 
wished to take the road through their country to 
Mexico, there to speak with Montezuma. The two 
went to Xicotenga's camp, and punctually returned 
with the message that we might go to the town where 
his father lived, where they would make peace after 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 117 

they had satiated themselves on our flesh and had 
honored their gods with our hearts and blood. Tired 
out with battles, we did not relish this haughty an- 
swer. 

Cortes now made the most careful enquiries about 
the forces of Xicotenga, and we learned that he had 
many more troops than when he attacked us before 
— five chiefs, each commanding ten thousand men. 
They had brought out their banner and standard — 
a large white bird like an ostrich, with wings out- 
spread as if on point of flight. Besides this, each 
cacique had his own particular colors and Insignia, 
just as do our dukes and earls In Spain. We were 
human beings and feared death, and when we heard 
these facts, and learned from other Indian captives 
that they were true, we spent the whole of the night 
in repenting our sins and In offering fervent prayers 
that the Almighty would save us from defeat. 

Next morning, September 5th, 15 19, we equipped 
ourselves for battle, and we had not gone quarter 
of a mile when we saw the fields covered with war- 
riors bearing on their heads huge feather crests, 
waving their colors and making terrific noises with' 
horns and trumpets. The pen that would seek to 
describe what we here saw would find a difficult task. 
It was a battle of as fearful and doubtful event as 
well could be — a plain six miles in breadth swarm- 
ing with warriors, and In the midst four hundred 



ii8 The Mastering of Mexico 

men, the greater part wounded and knocked up with 
fatigue; — four hundred men, I say, knowing their 
foe had marched out to battle with the determination 
to leave none alive save those they would sacrifice 
to their idols. 

What a shower of arrows and stones they poured 
upon us ! The ground was literally covered with 
javelins, double-edged and sharp enough to pierce 
any armor. They fought like very furies, but we 
used our heavy guns, muskets and crossbows with 
such effect, and our cavalry in particular bore them- 
selves so valiantly, that they, next the Almighty, were 
our bulwark. The enemy were themselves so many 
and so closely crowded, and also part of their forces 
so divided by quarrels, that at last they lost courage 
and retreated. Our horsemen followed them but a 
short distance, for from fatigue they could not sit 
upon their horses. 

When at last we found ourselves free from at- 
tack we gave fervent thanks to God. We had lost 
one soldier killed, but sixty were wounded, as well 
as all the horses. They gave me two wounds, one 
on the head with a stone, and one by an arrow pierc- 
ing my ankle, but neither disabled me for duty and 
fighting till the end. 

Oh! the distress we suffered! We had neither 
oil nor salt for our wounds. And we had no clothes 
to shelter us from the sharp winds that blew from the 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 119 

snow mountains and shook us with cold. Lances, 
crossbows and muskets make poor coverlets. But 
we slept that night, and more soundly than on the 
night before, for we had regulated our outposts and 
patrols. 

In the last battle we had taken three Indian ca- 
ciques. These Cortes sent to the chieftains of Tlax- 
cala, begging them to make peace and permit our 
march through their country to Mexico, as we had 
already asked ; that if they would not now xome to 
terms, we would fight till we had slain them all — 
which would grieve us, for we were well disposed 
and would gladly believe them brothers. 

Our delegates came betimes to the capital of Tlax- 
cala and gave their message to the caciques, whom 
they found in council with the elders and papas. De- 
feat and the death of friends had made them sorrow- 
ful, and they were unwilling to listen to our messen- 
gers until they had summoned their soothsayers, 
priests and fortune-tellers and bidden them find from 
their sorceries and magic spells just what sort of peo- 
ple we were, and if fighting us day and night they 
could overcome us; and also to tell them what we 
ate and if we were really teules, that is, gods, as the 
Cempoalans said. 

Upon this the papas and wizards got together in 
great numbers and began their enchantments, and 
finally by their arts discovered that we were humans 



120 The Mastering of Mexico 

made of flesh and blood, that, as they did, we ate 
dogs, fowls, bread and fruit, if we could get them, 
but we did not devour the flesh of those we had 
slain. The worst things these priests and wizards 
said of us was that we were very valiant during the 
day, but became helpless as soon as the sun went 
down. 

This last finding furnished a capital hint to the 
caciques; and Xicotenga did not fail to draw out ten 
thousand of his bravest troops and fall upon us by 
night. They implicitly believed they should capture 
and sacrifice us to their gods. But silently as they 
approached, and furiously as they charged, they 
found us on guard, and we gave them so rough a re- 
ception with our muskets and cut them so vigorously 
with our swords, that they soon turned their backs, 
our cavalry pursuing by the bright light of the moon. 

It was on the following morning that we saw our 
true condition. Not one among us who had not one, 
two or three wounds, and all were weakened by fa- 
tigue and hardship. Fifty-five of us had died in 
battle or from disease and the great cold, and Cortes 
and the Padre de Olmedo were suffering from fever. 
Naturally we began to think what would be the final 
outcome of our undertaking. If the Tlaxcalans, 
whom we thought peacefully minded toward us, 
could reduce us to such straits, what would become 
of us when we met the great armies of Monte- 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 121 

zuma? Plainly among us there were plenty of 
valiant gentlemen and soldiers who brought wisdom 
to our councils, whom Cortes always consulted — in 
fact, he did nothing without first consulting us. 

But after a few days, and after the Tlaxcalans 
had intrigued and made other attacks, the Almighty 
inclined the hearts of the caciques to make peace 
with us. Men of theirs of good understanding 
finally met in one of the chief towns, and when they 
sat in council an elder of the first rank addressed 
them, as we afterwards learned, to the following 
effect: " Brothers and friends, you know how often 
these teules, who are now in our country and ready 
to fight, have asked us for peace, saying they have 
come as brothers to aid us. You know the number 
of prisoners they have taken and never harmed, but 
set free. You know how three times we attacked 
them and failed to conquer. Again they ask us to 
make peace ; and the Cempoalans who are with them 
assure us that they are enemies of Montezuma and 
his Mexicans. You well know that the Mexicans 
have every year for more than one hundred years 
made war on us, and have completely shut us in our 
territory so that we dare not go beyond to fetch salt 
for our food or cotton for our clothes. If any of 
our people venture beyond our limits, they rarely re- 
turn alive. The perfidious Mexicans and their allies 
kill them or make them slaves. Our wizards and 



122 The Mastering of Mexico 

papas have told us what they think of these teules; 
that they are very valiant we know. Let us seek 
friendship with them. Whether they be men or 
teules, let us welcome them. Let us send chiefs to 
their camp with food for them to eat, and offer them 
peace so that they may aid us against our enemies." 

All the caciques hearing this speech approved it, 
and at once notified their general to stay hostilities. 
Xicotenga, however, would not listen. He became 
very angry and cried out he was not for peace, that 
already he had killed many of the teules and one of 
their horses, and he would fall on us the next night 
and kill us all. But the advice of the wise elders 
finally prevailed, and after some delay ambassadors, 
clothed in cloaks half red and half white, came to our 
camp to negotiate peace. 

When they reached the quarters of Cortes they 
incensed him by burning copal before him and paid 
him other forms of respect, and they said they wished 
to be admitted to our friendship and do homage to 
our king; that they had taken up arms against us be- 
cause they then believed we had been sent by the 
treachery of Montezuma, but they now were con- 
vinced that in alliance with us they might live in se- 
curity and peace. Cortes with every friendly ex- 
pression seated them by his side and told them we 
should in the future look upon them as vassals of our 
emperor and as our friends, and that we would visit 



We Find Friends in Tlaxcala 123 

their city at once if it were not for some business we 
were carrying through with Montezuma. 

Ambassadors from Mexico were present during 
the whole of this interview and heard all the prom- 
ises made, and when the Tlaxcalans had withdrawn 
they half laughingly remarked to Cortes that he 
should not trust such assurances; they were nothing 
but treacherous tricks, for the Tlaxcalans merely in- 
tended, failing to conquer us in open combat, to get 
us into their town and kill us. Cortes told the am- 
bassadors that he was not troubling himself about 
the Tlaxcalan intentions; and when the Mexicans 
found him thus determined they begged him to wait 
six days in our camp that they might send messen- 
gers to Montezuma. Faithful to their word, within 
six days six Mexican chief men arrived from the 
great city with a rich present of gold trinkets 
wrought in various shapes and two hundred pieces 
of cotton cloth interwoven with feathers. When 
they offered these to Cortes they told him Monte- 
zuma was delighted to hear of our success, but he 
prayed him most earnestly not to go with the people 
of Tlaxcala to their town, and on the whole not to 
trust them, for they were merely wishing to rob us 
of our gold and cloth and were themselves so poor 
they did not have a single decent cotton cloak. 

At this very moment delegates arrived from Tlax- 
cala saying all the old caciques of the town were 



124 The Mastering of Mexico 

coming to conduct us to their quarters, for finding 
we did not come, they determined to seek after us, 
and so they had set out, some in litters, some on foot. 
When they had come before Cortes and had done 
their ceremonies of respect, our captain said he 
thanked them for the food they had continually been 
sending and for other deeds, and the sole reason he 
had not visited their city was that he had not any one 
to move the tepuzques, as they termed our cannon. 
" Was it nothing but that! " they cried. " And you 
could not tell us! " and in less than half an hour 
five hundred porters were on the spot and early next 
day we were marching towards their town. 



I 



CHAPTER IX 

Telling how kind the Tlaxcalans were, and what happened 
to us afterwards at Cholula; and also in what an ad- 
venture the clever Donna Marina found herself. 

We had come barely within a mile of Tlaxcala 
when the caciques came out to meet us, accompanied 
by their families and many of their leading people. 
Members of the five tribes of Tlaxcala, flocking in 
from all parts of the country, wore their different 
dresses, which, for want of cotton, they made of hen- 
nequen, hemp from the aloe, and very neatly and pret- 
tily painted. Next the caciques came the papas, of 
whom there were great numbers, carrying pans of 
glowing embers and incensing us. Some of them had 
on long white cloaks, after the fashion of surplices, 
and hoods like those worn by our canon, and their hair 
was long and matted so that it could not be parted 
or ordered, and it was besmeared with blood which 
oozed from their ears, for they had cut their ears 
by way of sacrifice. Their finger-nails were very 
long, and in token of humility they lowered their 
heads when they approached us. These men were 
greatly revered for their religion. 

The caciques now gathered round Cortes and 

125 



126 The Mastering of Mexico 

formed a guard of honor, and when we entered the 
town happy-faced men and women were so many 
they could scarcely find room on the streets and bal- 
conies. They brought baskets of sweet-scented 
roses and gave them to Cortes and other soldiers 
they thought officers, particularly to those who were 
on horseback. Under such circumstance we came 
to spacious courtyards where were our quarters — 
which they had trimmed with green boughs — and 
where the two elder caciques took Cortes by the hand 
and led him to his lodgings. For each of us they 
had made a bed of dried grass and spread with sheets 
of hennequen. Our friends from Cempoala lodged 
near us and Cortes asked that the ambassadors from 
Montezuma might also be close by. 

Good will and friendly feeling we soon saw in 
every one, and the officer whose duty it was to post 
sentinels told Cortes that the people were so peace- 
ful we did not need our usual watchfulness. " That 
may be true," answered Cortes, " but we will not 
give up that very good old habit of ours. Better to 
be on guard, just as if we expected attack any mo- 
ment. Many a captain has lost through careless- 
ness and overconfidence." Especially the two chief 
caciques felt hurt by our military precautions, and 
said to Cortes, through our interpreters, " You have 
no. confidence in us, Malinche.* You order your 

• The tribes through whose territory the conquistadores passed 



How We Fared in Cholula 127 

men to patrol exactly as you did when you attacked 
our lines, and we believe you do this because the 
Mexicans, wishing to estrange you and us, have whis- 
pered in your ears fears that we prove treacherous. 
i\sk. for as many hostages as you like, Malinche, and 
you shall have them." 

Cortes and all of us were moved by the kindness 
and grace with which the old men spoke, and our 
captain answered that he wanted no hostages, he 
knew their good will, but to be on guard was always 
a custom of ours. At this moment other chiefs ar- 
rived with supplies of fowls, maize bread, prickly 
pears and vegetables. Indeed we had everything in 
abundance during the whole of the twenty days we 
lay in the town. 

One of those days Cortes took the two elder chiefs 
aside and questioned them intimately about affairs 
in Mexico. Montezuma, they assured him, could 
march one hundred and fifty thousand men from his 
capital to the field when he wished to capture a city. 
Besides these he kept strong garrisons in all the 
provinces. He was such a powerful and rich prince 
that he had everything he desired, and forced all his 
provinces to pay him tribute of gold, silver, feathers, 
precious stones, cotton cloths and men and women 

so named Cortes because the Interpreter, Donna Marina, was al- 
ways by him when ambassadors arrived and interpreted for both 
parties. They therefore called him Marina's captain, or for 
short, Malinche. 



128 The Mastering of Mexico 

for sacrifice and slaves. The houses in which he 
dwelt were stored with riches which he had seized 
by force. In short, all the wealth of the country 
was In his hands. Of his capital city and its cause- 
ways, its houses and bridges, they told us as we had 
already heard; and also of an aqueduct carrying 
sweet water from springs of Chapultepec, about two 
miles from the town, and reaching a place in the 
city from which porters carried it in canoes and sold 
it to the people. 

These two caciques told also about the arms of 
the Mexicans — two-pronged lances which go 
through any cuirass; bows and arrows, with which 
they are excellent shot; javelins * with flint edges 
as sharp as knives; and stone-edged, two-handed 
swords ; and rounded stones for which they had many 
slingers. 

Because we had heard about all the caciques were 
telling, we changed the subject to another more pro- 
found, and the caciques told of a tradition they had 
from their forefathers — how one of their gods, to 
whom they paid great honors, had told them that 
in a time to come, from the direction of the rising 
of the sun, a people should come and rule over them. 
If we were these people, the kind old caciques said, 

•The main weapon of Mexico, "a short spear made of hard 
and elastic canewood, whose point, shaped after the maimer of 
the well-known arrow-head, was mostly of flint, of obsidian, and 
perhaps occasionally of copper." A. F. A. Bandelier. 



How We Fared in Cholula 129 

they rejoiced, for we were both brave and good. At 
this account we were all astonished and said to one 
another, " Can what they tell us be true? " But at 
once our captain answered, " We do indeed come 
from the rising of the sun, and our master, the king, 
has purposely sent us to become your brothers. May 
God give us grace to save you from eternal death." 
To which we all answered, " Amen." 

At last one morning we broke quarters and 
marched for Cholula, on guard and in best possible 
order, as whenever we thought attacks possible. But 
envoys from the caciques of Cholula met and bade 
us welcome to their territory, and within a short dis- 
tance of the town the caciques, papas and a number 
of Indians came out to meet us. When we made our 
entry the people crowded the streets and housetops 
to gaze on us. And who can wonder? Never had 
they seen men like ourselves, nor any horses. We 
marched to our quarters, in which we found plenty 
of room, and to which they at once brought us abun- 
dance of good food. The city lay in a plain, a land 
bearing maize and vegetables and the maguey from 
which the people ferment a wine. And they also 
make a very good pottery of white, black and red 
clay, and supply all Mexico and its provinces. 

They certainly meant well and honestly the splen- 
did reception they gave us. All seemed in profound 
peace, and they furnished regular and plentiful sup- 



130 The Mastering of Mexico 

plies. The third day, however, a change came over 
them. They neither brought us anything to eat nor 
did any cacique or papa appear, and if any Indians 
from curiosity came to gaze at us, they smiled mock- 
ingly. Our captain seeing this, told our interpreters. 
Donna Marina and Aguilar, to tell the ambassadors 
of Montezuma, still in our company, that they must 
order the caciques to send us food. Wood and wa- 
ter now reached us, but the old men who brought it 
said that in all Cholula there was no more maize. 

That very day, also, other ambassadors arrived 
from Montezuma, joining those staying with us, and 
they said in impudent tones that their monarch sent 
them to say we should not come to his city, for he 
could not give us food; and, moreover, they were in 
a hurry to go back to Mexico with our answer. As 
soon as Cortes saw the unfriendliness their speech 
implied, he answered in most courteous manner that 
he marvelled how so great a ruler as Montezuma 
should so often change his mind, and he begged them 
not to return to Mexico, for he himself thought of 
starting the very next day. 

As soon as the conference was ended Cortes called 
us together and told us, " These people are very much 
set against us, and we must be particularly on our 
guard." He then sent to the chief cacique, telling 
him if he could not himself come to send some other 
chief. In answer the cacique said that he himself 



i 



How We Fared in Cholula 131 

was ill and no other could come. When our cap- 
tain heard this, he ordered us to bring to him, with 
every respect to their person, two papas from a large 
temple near our quarters. To each papa he gave 
a chalchihuite, a stone, I have said, held by them as 
valuable as emeralds are by us, and he asked in most 
kindly way why they no longer came to see us, though 
we invited them. One of these priests had a su- 
perior rank, like that of a bishop, for he had charge 
or command of all the temples in the city and the 
people held him in great veneration, and he in an- 
swer stated that the papas had no fear of us, and if 
the caciques would not come he would go himself 
and call them, adding that if he spoke to them, he 
believed they would come at once. 

Cortes accordingly desired him to go and the other 
papa would await his return. It was not long before 
the papa reappeared, bringing with him the chief 
cacique and other men. Why, Cortes proceeded to 
ask, did they no longer send us anything to eat? If 
our stay in their town had proved burdensome, we 
would leave the very next morning for Mexico — 
they had merely to provide us porters for our bag- 
gage and tepusques (cannon), and send us food. 
The cacique was now so embarrassed that he scarcely 
could speak, but at length he found voice to say they 
would send the provisions we wanted, although their 
lord, Montezuma, had commanded them to with- 



132 The Mastering of Mexico 

hold all food and not permit us to go further toward 
his great city. 

While this conference was going on, three of our 
Cempoalan friends came in and secretly told Cortes 
that in the streets close by their quarters they had 
found deep holes, so covered over with wood and 
earth that without careful inspection they would not 
be noticed; and that they had had the curiosity to re- 
move the earth from off one of the holes and had 
found pointed stakes sticking up from the bottom, 
no doubt set there to wound our horses when they 
fell into the holes. Moreover, the housetops had 
breastworks of burnt bricks and heaps of stones, 
while thick timbers barricaded one of the streets. 

At this very moment also eight Tlaxcalans, who 
had had orders not to enter Cholula, arrived from 
their quarters outside the city and said, " Beware of 
the treachery that is going on in this town, Malinche. 
Last night the Cholulans sacrificed to their god of 
war seven persons, among them five children, so that 
the god may grant them victoiy over you. They 
are moving their wives and children out of town and 
all their belongings." 

When Cortes heard this he sent the Tlaxcalans 
back to their caciques with orders to be ready if we 
should summon them, and turning to the caciques 
and papas told them to have no fear and to remain 
true to the obedience they had pledged him, other- 



How We Fared in Cholula 133 

wise he should feel obliged to punish them; and now, 
as he had already said, he purposed to take his de- 
parture to-morrow for Mexico, and he should re- 
quire warriors and porters of theirs to join his army. 
The caciques answered that their men would be 
ready, and they took their leave to make the neces- 
sary preparations, very well contented in mind, for 
there seemed to them no doubt of the success of their 
plans. They had made sacrifices to their god of 
war and he had promised them victory. 

Cortes now made every effort to find what their 
plans were, and commissioned Donna Marina to 
present still other chalchihuite stones to the two 
papas. She accordingly went and spoke to the 
priests and, adding also the presents, led them to our 
quarters, where Cortes asked them to tell the truth, 
which as papas and caciques they were twice bound 
to do. They then averred that the truth was their 
sovereign, Montezuma, could not make up his mind 
whether he should permit us to march to his city or 
not, and he changed his mind several times a day — 
at one time ordering them to pay us the greatest rev- 
erence and guide us to Mexico, at another time send- 
ing word that his gods, Tezcatlipoca and Huitzilo- 
pochtli, in whose advice he confided, counselled him 
to imprison or kill us in Cholula. To this end he had 
the very day before sent twenty thousand men, one 
half of whom were now secreted in the town and the 



134 The Mastering of Mexico 

other half lying in ambush in mountain ravines. Be- 
tween these troops and the two thousand warriors 
of Cholula who were to accompany us and act in 
concert with the Mexicans, we should not be able to 
escape death, or at least capture and transport to 
Mexico — all save twenty, who were to be sacrificed 
before the idols of Cholula. After Cortes had 
gained this information he presented both papas with 
finely embroidered cloth, and told them not to tell 
what had passed between him and them; if they did, 
they should on our return from Mexico certainly die. 
That night Cortes called a council of war. Opin- 
ions, as happens on such occasions, were various. 
Some thought we should change our course; others 
that we should go back to Tlaxcala; others that if we 
let such treachery go unpunished we should meet 
worse, and it would be better to make an attack right 
there in the town, where we could find ample sup- 
plies and do more effective work than in the open 
field. To this last opinion all at length agreed, and 
as Cortes had given out that we were to start the 
following morning, we should therefore make as if 
we were tying up our knapsacks, and attack the In- 
dian warriors in the ample square where we lodged, 
and within its high walls pay them their dues. To 
the ambassadors of Montezuma we should say some 
villains of Cholula had formed a conspiracy and at- 
tempted to lav it at the door of their monarch, but 



How We Fared in Cholula 135 

we could not for a moment believe Montezuma had 
given such orders; however, we must beg them to 
stay in our quarters and have no converse with the 
Cholulans. 

That we were to be attacked we also gained fur- 
ther certainty through an elderly Indian woman, wife 
of a cacique. The beldame had seen and admired 
the youth and good looks and rich trinkets of Donna 
Marina, and had gone so far as to tell her, if she 
wanted to save her life she should come to her house, 
for we were all to be killed that night or the very 
next day; that the great Montezuma had sent an 
army of Mexicans to join the Cholulans and had 
ordered them to leave no one of us alive; and be- 
cause she felt a sort of compassion for Donna Ma- 
rina she advised her to pack her things in all haste 
and come to her house. There she would marry 
her to her second son. 

Now Donna Marina had a good deal of native 
mother-wit and shrewdness, and she said to the dame, 
" How thankful I am to you, good mother ! I 
would go with you this minute, but I have a lot of 
mantles and jewels and no one here to carry them. 
May I beg you, good mother, to wait a little, you 
and your son? — and sometime to-night we will 
leave. You see these teules have eyes and ears 
everywhere." 

The beldame stayed on, chatting, and Donna Ma- 



136 The Mastering of Mexico 

rina questioned her as to the manner in which they 
planned to kill us. The woman's answers agreed 
perfectly with the account the two papas had given. 
" I know all this from my husband," she continued, 
" for he is chief of one of the divisions of this city 
and has already joined the men under his command. 
I have known it three days, for my husband had a 
gilded drum sent him from Mexico, and three offi- 
cers had rich cloaks and jewels of gold with orders 
to take all the teules prisoners and send them to the 
great city." 

"How delighted I am!" returned Donna Ma- 
rina, " that your son, to whom you intend to marry 
me, is a man of such rank! Good mother, wait 
here while I go and pack my things, for I can not 
carry all alone. You must help me." Then Donna 
Marina went swiftly to our captain and told him all 
the Indian woman had said, and he ordered the 
woman brought to him and he questioned her, finally 
placing her under guard so that she would not dis- 
close anything to the Cholulans. 

When dawn came it was astonishing to see the 
air of contempt and confidence with which the ca- 
ciques and papas brought more warriors than we had 
asked, so many, in fact, that the courtyards could 
not hold them. But early as it was, they found us 
quite ready for our day's work. Our captain 
mounted his horse, and surrounded by several of us 



I 



How We Fared in Cholula 137 

as a guard to his person, with Donna Marina also 
near to interpret, he severely upbraided the assem- 
bled caciques and papas, asking them why it was, 
when we had done them no harm, that they wished 
to kill us; that he had merely exhorted the tribes we 
had met to live cleaner lives, to do away with human 
sacrifice, to cease eating human flesh. Why had 
they dug holes in their streets, built barricades, sent 
away their families and property? Why had they 
refused us food? He knew perfectly well that many 
warriors lay secreted in the town and others waited 
to attack us on our way to Mexico. If they wanted 
to kill us, why did they not meet us in open field as 
their neighbors, the Tlaxcalans, had done? He 
knew they had sacrificed seven Indians to their god 
of war that they might gain the victory. But their 
god's promises were lies and deceits and their treach- 
ery would strike back on them. 

The caciques and papas, when they heard all this, 
confessed that it was true, but added that they were 
not the guilty ones, for the ambassadors of Monte- 
zuma had ordered it in the name of their lord. Cor- 
tes answered that Spanish law did not permit 
such treason to go unpunished, and, so speaking, he 
ordered the firing of a cannon. This was the agreed 
signal for us to fall upon them. We gave them a 
blow which they will forever remember. After a 
couple of hours our friends of Tlaxcala came storm- 



138 The Mastering of Mexico 

ing into the town and taking the Cholulans prison- 
ers, so deeply rooted was their hatred. 

At last the Cholulans begged us to pardon them, 
saying we had punished the real traitors. Upon this 
Cortes desired them all to come back to their homes, 
and he promised no harm should befall them. The 
long feud between Tlaxcalans and Cholulans Cortes 
also at this time healed, and a good understanding 
grew between them that has never since been dis- 
turbed. 

As soon as the town was again filled with its peo- 
ple and the markets open as usual, Cortes called to- 
gether all the papas, caciques and other leaders of 
the city, and set clearly before them matters of our 
holy religion, telling them they must cease worship- 
ing idols and committing other offences; that they 
now saw how their gods had lied only five days be- 
fore when they promised them victory. They must 
pull down their idols, he told them, and clean and 
whitewash their temples that we might fit up a chapel 
and set a cross there. Through several days they 
kept delaying, though many times Cortes ordered 
them to do this. Finally Padre de Olmedo eased 
the mind of our captain by assuring him that it was 
too much to take away their idols before they had 
some understanding of our faith, that time would 
give us experience in the way to guide them, and we 
ought first to see how our expedition to Mexico 



How We Fared in Cholula 139 

turned out. For the present, he said, we had given 
pious counsel.* 

* With this opinion of Olmedo stood also Las Casas, famed as 
" the apostle of the Indies " and " protector of the Indians," who 
testified, " Before the idols can be taken from their hearts we 
must know the estimation the idolaters have formed of their gods. 
Then we must paint on their hearts the conception of the true 
God. Afterwards, shocked at their error, they themselves will 
throw down and destroy willingly and with their own hands the 
idols they venerated. . . . This was not the last of the blunders 
made with these Indians in this matter of religion; they have 
made them erect crosses, inducing the Indians to reverence them. 
. . . The most certain and convenient rule and doctrine Christians 
ought to give and hold when they go for a short time into a 
place, as these went, and also when they go to live among the 
people, is to give them examples of virtuous and Christian works, 
in order that, seeing their deeds, the natives praise and give glory 
to the God and Father of the Christians, judging that he who has 
such worshipers cannot but be the good and true God." 



CHAPTER X 

What happened to us as we neared the great and splendid 
City of Mexico; and how we made our bold and daring 
entrance, and Montezuma met us in solemn state and 
visited with Cortes. 

We had now lain a fortnight at Cholula and had 
seen the town repeopled, the markets again filled 
with goods, peace concluded and a cross erected. 
The troops sent to lie in ambush and attack us had 
gone back to Mexico, and again Montezuma sent 
spies to find what our plans were and if we purposed 
going to his city. Again, therefore, our captain 
called a council of those oflicers and soldiers in whose 
loyalty and judgm.ent he had confidence, and it was 
agreed that we should send a friendly message to 
Montezuma. " We had now carried out the com- 
mand of our king," the message went, " journeying 
over many seas and through far distant lands solely 
to see him and tell him what it would be greatest ad- 
vantage for him to know. We had taken the road 
to Cholula because his ambassadors had guided us, 
and there we had been forced to punish some of the 
people who had treacherously plotted to kill us. 
Convinced of his friendship, we were setting out at 
once for his great city." 

140 



How Montezuma Met Us 141 

When Montezuma heard this message of ours, 
and learned that we did not lay blame for the Cho- 
lulan disaster at his door, he again began to fast with 
his papas, and also to make sacrifices to his gods in 
order to learn If they would permit him to allow us 
to enter the city. The answer they gave was like 
their first — that he should allow us to enter the 
metropolis and then slay us at his pleasure. So it 
came about that Montezuma despatched six chiefs 
bearing gold and jewels, valued at about two thou- 
sand dollars, and several loads of richly embroidered 
stuffs. Introduced to the presence of Cortes, these 
caciques In reverence touched the ground with their 
hands and standing before our captain said, " Ma- 
linche, our ruler, Montezuma, sends you this pres- 
ent and begs you to accept it with the same kindness 
he bears you and your brothers. The troubles the 
people of Cholula caused you weigh grievously on 
him. Be assured of his friendship and go to his city 
whenever you like. He will receive you with hon- 
ors. He can not entertain you as he might wish, be- 
cause he has nothing to give you to eat, owing to his 
city standing In the midst of a lake, but he will en- 
deavor to do all he is able, and has ordered all 
towns through which you pass to supply your every 
need." 

We set out from Cholula with our usual precau- 
tions, a few of our cavalry in advance to examine 



142 The Mastering of Mexico 

the country ahead, our active foot soldiers close be- 
hind to clear the road and help in case of an ambush. 
On our several days' march we passed through a 
number of towns and villages, from which the ca- 
ciques and papas brought us food and small presents 
of gold and stuffs; and, moreover, quite secretly to 
the Mexican ambassadors, complained bitterly of 
Montezuma and his tax collectors, hov/ they robbed 
them of all they possessed and reduced their wives 
and daughters, if they were handsome, to base servi- 
tude; enslaving the men also to carry timber, stones 
and maize by water and land, and plant the mon- 
arch's cornfield, and finally forcing them to give up 
their own lands to support the temples of the gods. 

As we marched onward still other Mexican chiefs 
bearing a present of gold and cloth appeared before 
Cortes and addressed him as their forerunners had 
done. " Malinche," they said, " our lord, the great 
Montezuma, sends you this present and expresses 
his sorrow for the many hardships you have suffered 
in your exhausting journey to see him. He has al- 
ready sent you quantities of silver and gold and chal- 
chihuites as tribute to your sovereign, and presents to 
you and the teules with you. But now he begs you 
not to advance further, but to return whence you 
have come. Gold, silver and rich stones he prom- 
ises to send you to your port on the coast, but he 
altogether forbids you to enter Mexico. You can 



How Montezuma Met Us 143 

get in only by a narrow causeway; there is no food 
for you to eat, and all his troops are under arms to 
oppose you." 

However unpleasant this message might have been 
to Cortes, he received the ambassadors with kindness 
and accepted their presents. He marvelled, he went 
on to tell them, how their lord, Montezuma, who was 
so great a prince and had named himself our friend, 
could so often change his mind, one day saying one 
thing, the next countermanding it. Would it be right 
for us, after we, in carrying out the commands of our 
king, had come so near the city to turn back? We 
had no choice left. In one way or another we must 
enter. From now on Montezuma must send no 
more such messages as this, for Cortes was bound to 
see him and to set forth the whole purpose for which 
he had come. Then, after we had told our errand, 
if our stay in the city annoyed him, we would return. 
As to what they said about there being little food in 
Mexico, we were used to scant diet. 

With this answer Cortes sent the ambassadors 
back. But we, for our part, became more thought- 
ful. We were mortals and feared death, and the 
cages in which they fattened victims, and their threats 
that they would seize and sacrifice us before their 
idols. Now, doubly on guard in the thickly popu- 
lated country, we made short days' marches, ar- 
ranged the manner we should enter the great city. 



144 The Mastering of Mexico 

and commended ourselves to God with faith that the 
power that had vouchsafed us protection in the past 
would guard us against the evils of Mexico. 

To a town in which we rested Montezuma now 
despatched his nephew, Cacamatzin, lord of Tex- 
coco, to bid us welcome. The young man came to- 
ward us in great pomp, seated in a litter richly 
wrought with silver, and green feathers, and many 
precious stones set in finest gold, and borne by eight 
caciques upon their shoulders. They came to the 
front of Cortes' quarters and then they aided Caca- 
matzin out of the litter and swept clean the ground 
before him. In all his splendor standing before Cor- 
tes, the cacique said, " Malinche, I and these 
chiefs have come to wait upon and provide you and 
your comrades all that you may need, and to 
conduct you to quarters we have prepared for you 
in our city. The powerful Montezuma commands 
this." 

In the way he knew so well Cortes answered with 
many fine things, and we then continued our march. 
Vast crowds, both followers of the caciques and curi- 
ous country folks, so surrounded us that we could 
scarcely move along. Next morning we arrived at 
a broad causeway, when we saw many towns and vil- 
lages built in the lake, and other large towns on the 
land, with the level causeway running in a straight 
line to Mexico. We were astounded and told one 



How Montezuma Met Us 145 

another that the majestic towers and houses, all of 
massive stone and rising out of the waters, were like 
enchanted castles we had read of in books. Indeed, 
some of our men even asked if what we saw was not 
a dream. 

And when we entered the city of Iztapalapa, our 
quarters in palaces ! — their spacious courts, their 
hewn stone and cedar and other sweet-scented wood ! 
their great rooms canopied with cotton cloth ! After 
we had taken a good look at this we went to the 
gardens, where I could not gratify myself too much 
with the trees which spread delightful scents, the 
rose bushes, the flower beds and fruit trees, the fresh- 
water pond, and openings built of many-colored 
stones so that large canoes could pass to the garden 
from the lake. Water-loving birds of many kinds 
were swimming up and down the pond, and every- 
thing was charming. We could not find words to 
express our astonishment. 

Escorted by all the great caciques who had 
thronged to us the past few days, we left Iztapalapa 
early next morning, and marched along the cause- 
way, there about eight paces in width. Broad as 
it was, it was much too narrow to hold the crowds 
who kept coming to gaze at us. We could scarcely 
move along. The tops of the temples and towers 
were crowded also, while the lake beneath was alive 
with canoes bearing people eager to catch a glimpse 



146 The Mastering of Mexico 

of us. And who can wonder ! — for never had they 
seen horses, nor men such as we ! 

As for ourselves, we did not know what to think, 
or whether what we beheld was real. On one side 
of us large towns, in the lake many more, the canoe- 
covered lake itself, and before us the splendor of 
the great city of Mexico! Innumerable crowds! — 
and we — not even four hundred men ! — and all 
remembering the warnings given by friendly tribes 
not to trust our lives to the treachery of a people 
who would kill us as soon as they had us in their 
town. In all the world what men have ever ven- 
tured so bold a deed as this! 

When we had come to where another small cause- 
way branched off other caciques, all clad in splendid 
mantles, met us and, touching the ground with their 
hands in token of peace, bade us welcome in the name 
of Montezuma. We halted a good while at this 
fork, for Cacamatzin and other chiefs with us went 
forward to meet the ruler, now slowly approaching, 
seated in a litter surrounded by caciques. When 
we had again advanced to a place where several 
small towers rose together, the monarch got down 
from his litter, the chief caciques supporting him un- 
der the arms and holding over his head a canopy 
wrought with green feathers, gold and silver em- 
broidery, pearls and chalchihuite stones — all very 
wonderful. 




The great Montezuma 



How Montezuma Met Us 147 

Montezuma himself was sumptuously dressed, as 
was always his habit, and he had on sandals richly set 
with precious stones and soled with solid gold. The 
four chiefs who supported him had somewhere on the 
road also put on richer garments than those In which 
they had met us. Other chiefs besides these dis- 
tinguished caciques were about the monarch, sweep- 
ing the ground where he would tread and spreading 
cloths that he might not step on the bare earth. No 
one of these caciques dared to look the monarch full 
in the face, but every one kept his eyes lowered in 
reverence, except the four cousins and nephews who 
supported him. 

When Cortes learned that Montezuma was com- 
ing near, he dismounted from his horse and advanced 
to meet him. Many compliments passed between 
the two, Montezuma bidding Cortes welcome, and 
our captain, through Donna Marina, hoping his 
majesty was in good health. If I remember aright, 
Cortes offered Montezuma the place of honor on 
the right, but he gave his hand to Cortes, who now 
brought out a necklace of glass stones, of the most 
beautiful shapes and colors, strung on gold wire and 
perfumed with musk. This he hung round the neck 
of Montezuma, and when he had placed it he was 
going to embrace the monarch, but the caciques held 
him back that he should not do their ruler so great 
an indignity. Through the words of Donna Ma- 



148 The Mastering of Mexico 

rina Cortes then told how glad his heart was at meet- 
ing Montezuma face to face, and of the honor he 
had done us in coming himself to meet us. Monte- 
zuma, also, for his part spoke words of politeness, 
and then ordered the two caciques who were his 
nephews to conduct us to our quarters, he himself 
returning to the city with his numerous suite. As 
they passed us we stood watching how all paid him 
formal veneration and marched with head bent for- 
ward and eyes fixed on the ground. The road be- 
fore us was now less crowded, and yet who could 
count the vast number of men, women and children 
gathered merely to look upon us ! 

Our quarters were in a building where there was 
room enough for all of us, apartments which had 
been occupied in his lifetime by the father of Monte- 
zuma. They chose it for our dwelling because it 
was near by temples with idols, and since they termed 
us teules and thought us such, that we might dwell 
as equals by their gods. The chambers were very 
spacious, and those set apart for our captain were 
canopied with cloth. Every one of us had his own 
bed of matting, and no better bed is given, how great 
soever the chief. Notwithstanding the large size of 
the building every place was swept clean, coated with 
fresh plaster and garlanded. 

When we came to the great court-yard of the 
palace Montezuma, himself, was waiting and he took 



How Montezuma Met Us 149 

Cortes by the hand and led him to the richly dec- 
orated apartment where he was to lodge. And he 
hung about the neck of our captain a rich necklace, 
most curiously wrought of golden crabs, astonishing 
the caciques of his suite by the honor he bestowed 
until he took leave, saying, " Mallnche, you and your 
brothers must now do as If you were at home, and 
rest after your wearisome journey." He then re- 
turned to his own palace close by, while we divided 
our lodgings by companies, placed our cannon In 
advantageous position and so studied our orders that 
we could be ready at a moment's notice. We then 
sat down to a plentiful dinner which they spread 
before us. Thus was our memorable and daring 
entrance into the great city of Mexico on the 8th 
day of November, In the year of our Lord, 15 19. 

After Montezuma had dined and had learned that 
we, likewise, had eaten, he came with the pomp of 
a company of kinsmen to pay us a visit. Cortes, 
hearing of his approach, went to the middle of the 
hall to receive him, where Montezuma took our 
captain by the hand and seated him next himself on 
gold-wrought seats his followers had brought. 
The monarch then began to speak in most excellent 
fashion, saying first of all that he was delighted to 
entertain gentlemen so valiant as Cortes and all of 
us. A couple of years before he had had news of 
one captain who came to Chanpoton, and last year 



150 The Mastering of Mexico 

they had brought account of another with four ships. 
Each time he had wished to see them, and now that 
his wishes were fulfilled he was ready to render us 
service and provide for us with whatever he had; 
for assuredly we were those of whom his forefathers 
had spolLcn — a folk, who should come from where 
the sun rose and rule these lands. He no longer 
doubted since we had fought the battles, which he 
had seen in pictures true to life, against the Tabascans 
and Tlaxcalans. 

In his turn Cortes said we should never be able 
to repay him the courtesies he had shown us, and 
it was indeed true that we came from where the sun 
rose and were subjects of a ruler who held many 
and great princes in his sway, — a king who, having 
heard of Montezuma and his power, had sent us to 
see him and beg him and his people to become Chris- 
tians and adore one true God for their souls' salva- 
tion. 

After this conference Montezuma presented our 
captain with some very rich gold baubles and three 
loads of cotton stuffs splendidly worked with feath- 
ers, and to every soldier two loads of mantles — all 
he gave seemingly with pleasure, and in all he did 
he showed good breeding. He further asked if we 
were all brothers and all subjects of our great king, 
and Cortes answered yes, brothers in affection and 
friendship. He ordered his stewards to give us 



How Montezuma Met Us 151 

fowls and fruits with maize and milling stones, and 
to furnish women to grind our corn and make our 
bread. He ordered fodder, also, for our horses, 
after which he took leave with great courtesy. 
Nevertheless, our captain issued strict orders that 
no one should stir from our quarters until we knew 
better just how affairs stood. 

Next day Cortes determined to visit the monarch 
in his own palace, after sending to ask if with what 
he planned to do a visit from him would be agreeable. 
On our arrival Montezuma advanced to the middle 
of the hall to meet us. Only his nephews were with 
him, for none but kinsmen entered his rooms. After 
their first reverential greetings were over, he and 
our captain took each other by the hand and Mon- 
tezuma seated Cortes at his right hand, and bade all 
of us take seats which he had ordered brought In. 
Then through his interpreters Cortes spoke at con- 
siderable length, telling Montezuma how, in coming 
to talk with so great a ruler, we fulfilled the com- 
mands of our king and our own wishes ; that he had 
now come to disclose the commands of the true God, 
who created heaven, earth, the sea and every living 
thing, without whose holy will nothing existed, and 
he begged the attention of Montezuma to these 
words of his that we are all brothers, and that such 
a brother as our -great king grieved to think so many 
human souls should be led to hell by these idols ; for 



152 The Mastering of Mexico 

this reason he had sent us to put an end to such 
misery and to exhort the people no longer to adore 
such gods, nor to sacrifice human brothers to them, 
nor to kidnap and commit other offences; and 
shortly our king would send men of holy lives who 
would explain more fully; of these we were merely 
first messengers, and begged them to do what we 
asked. 

In turn Montezuma answered, " Malinche, what 
you have just been telling of your God I have under- 
stood before now, from what you said to my ambas- 
sadors on the sand dunes, and from what you have 
stated about the cross in the towns through which 
you have come. We have not made any answer be- 
cause here from long ages we have worshipped our 
own gods and believed them good gods, just as you 
have worshipped yours; therefore let us talk more 
on the subject. As to the creation of the world, 
we, too, believe it was created ages ago, and for this 
reason we think you are those people whom our an- 
cestors foretold should come from the region of the 
sunrise. I feel myself indebted to your great king 
and I will give him of whatever I possess." He also 
continued, saying that now the gods had fulfilled his 
wish of seeing the strange men coming to his coast, 
and we were in his dwelling, we should deem it our 
home and rest from our exhaustion, for we should 
want nothing. Sometimes, it is true, he had sent us 



How Montezuma Met Us 153 

word that we should not enter his city, but not of 
his own will, his subjects had forced him, for they 
feared us and said we shot out lightning and fire, and 
killed many Indians with our horses and were un- 
ruly teules — these and other childish tales. But 
now he had seen us, and he knew we were of flesh 
and bone, and of sound understanding and enduring 
courage, and he thought more highly of us than he 
had before and was ready to share all he had with 
us. 

Cortes and all of us answered that we thanked 
him for this evidence of his very friendly feeling, 
whereupon Montezuma said, laughing, for he was 
always of a bright, merry manner, " I know very 
well, Malinche, what those close allies of yours, the 
Tlaxcalans, have told you about me, how I am a 
sort of god or teul and my houses are filled with gold, 
silver and precious stones. Reasonable men such 
as you of course put no faith in their talk and took 
it for nonsense, but now, Malinche, you see for your- 
self that my body is of flesh and bone like yours. 
I am, to be sure, a powerful monarch, and have in- 
herited treasures from my forefathers, but the rest 
they told is nonsense. You must think of that as I 
think of your lightning and flames scattered in all 
directions." 

Cortes laughingly answered, *' We knew from of 
old that enemies neither speak well of each other. 



154 The Mastering of Mexico 

nor tell the truth; and we well knew that in this 
quarter of the world there was not another so illus- 
trious monarch, and not without reason had he been 
praised to our king." 

While this conversation went on Montezuma had 
secretly sent one of his nephews with orders to his 
stewards to bring certain pieces of gold and ten loads 
of cotton, which he now divided between Cortes and 
the four officers present; and to each of us five sol- 
diers present he gave two chains of gold for the neck 
and two loads of cotton cloth. Everything he gave 
was with the best of will, and with an air of dignity 
befitting a great monarch. 

It was now past noon and Cortes began to fear 
that our longer stay might prove tedious, so rising 
from his seat he said, " Montezuma, in your kind- 
ness you have the habit of every day heaping favor 
on favor. But it is now your dinner hour." The 
monarch in turn thanked us for coming to visit him, 
and taking our leave with many courtesies we re- 
turned to our lodgings. 



CHAPTER XI 

How the great Montezuma looked, how he dined, his ar- 
senals, his craftsmen and craftswomen, his gardens, 
aviary, beasts of prey; how we viewed the great market 
place and what else we saw when we ascended the chief 
temple. 

The mighty Montezuma may have been at this 
time about forty years of age. He was tall and had 
a slender body of beautiful proportion, and a com- 
plexion not very brown but approaching the Indians' 
in color. He did not wear his hair long, but only 
so as to cover his ears, and his beard was scanty. 
His face was rather long, but cheerful, and he had 
fine eyes which reflected his moods of tenderness and 
gravity. He was particularly neat in his person and 
bathed every afternoon. The clothes that he had 
on one day he did not put on again till after four 
days. 

In halls entering his apartments he had always a 
guard of over two hundred men, with whom, how- 
ever, he held no conversation, except to give or re- 
ceive some intelligence. Whenever they went to 
speak to him they had first to take off their rich 
cloaks and put on others of little value, though these 

155 



156 The Mastering of Mexico 

must be neat and clean; and they entered his presence 
barefoot and eyes cast down. During three prostra- 
tions they were obliged to make before they came up 
to him they must say in their speech, " Lord, my 
Lord, my great Lord," and make their report with 
eyes still cast down and in fewest possible words. 
Withdrawing from his presence, their formalities re- 
quired that they should not turn their backs but keep 
their faces towards the monarch and eyes still on 
the ground and back out of the room. 

For his dining his cooks prepared over thirty dif- 
ferent dishes, placing small earthern brasiers under- 
neath each that the food should not get cold. Not 
often, but sometimes, Montezuma went out with the 
officers of his household and chose of what his dinner 
should be; but this was mere pastime. I heard it 
said that the flesh of young boys, as a very dainty 
morsel, was sometimes set before him. If there 
were any truth in this we could not find, on account 
of the variety every day cooked, such as fowls, 
turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quail, wild and tame 
geese, venison, musk boar, pigeons, hares and rab- 
bits, and many other sorts of birds and beasts, which 
it would not be an easy task to name. But this I 
do know, that after Cortes reproached him with the 
sacrifices of human beings and the eating of their 
flesh, he ordered that no such dishes should again 
be brought to his table. Every kind of fruit which 



What We Saw in Mexico 157 

the land produced was served, and from time to time 
they brought him cacao frothed in cups of pure gold. 

The monarch was served at dinner after this man- 
ner: — The chair on which he sat was rather low, 
but beautifully carved and cushioned. The table, 
also low, was covered with a white cloth and napkin. 
Four very neat and beautiful women first brought 
water in a sort of pitcher for his hands, and then 
they held basins below to catch the water and pre- 
sented him towels to dry his hands. Two other 
women brought maize bread — served as was all his 
food on red or black Cholulan earthenware — and 
as soon as he began to eat they placed before him a 
gold-painted screen so that no one might watch him 
eating. Four elderly caciques, however, came in, 
and with these Montezuma conversed from time to 
time. Sometimes he would favor them by giving 
them a plate of what tasted best to him, but they ate 
standing with veneration and not looking at his face. 
These grey-haired elders, we learned, were his near- 
est of kin and counsellors and chief justices. While 
the monarch was at table the men on guard in the 
halls never spoke aloud nor made any kind of noise. 

Sometimes during his dining he would have in 
deformed persons very small of stature, who jested 
and went through antics for his amusement; and at 
other times buffoons to enliven him with their witty 
sayings; and then again dancers and singers, for 



158 The Mastering of Mexico 

Montezuma was fond of song and entertainment, 
and he would order broken food and pitchers of 
cacao distributed to these performers. When he 
had done dining the four women cleared the cloths 
and brought him water to wash his hands; and then 
they laid on the table three gilded tubes holding 
liquid amber mixed with certain herbs the Indians 
call tobacco. After one of the tubes was lighted the 
monarch inhaled a very little of the smoke, and fell 
asleep. 

Montezuma had numerous stewards, treasurers 
and cooks — indeed there is so much to tell that I 
know not where to begin. The limitless supply of 
provisions, the excellent order maintained, the ex- 
penses of the table of the guards and of the women 
who baked and made thousands of cups of frothy 
cacao — all kept us wondering. At that time a great 
cacique had the accounting of the whole of Mon- 
tezuma's revenue in large books of paper. Such ac- 
count-books filled a large house. 

Two other houses were arsenals filled with arms 
of every sort, many adorned with gold and precious 
stones. With all the different sized shields, broad- 
swords set with flint knives, lances with a fathom 
of blade fitted with knives, bows and arrows, slings 
with stones rounded by hand, large shields so in- 
geniously made that they could be rolled up out of 
the way when the warriors were not fighting — with 




Reproduced throngli the Courtesy of the American Museum of Natural 
History. 

This terra cotta figure of a warrior, found in a cave in the Val- 
ley of Mexico, makes clearer their quilted cotton armor — its jacket 
tied in the back, its loin cloth, its leggings and sandals. The ears 
are pierced for ornaments and the ring on the top of the head 
was perhaps for a head-dress of feathers. 



What We Saw in Mexico 159 

all these we saw there great quantities of armor 
of quilted cotton, wrought with different-colored 
feathers, and also feathered helmets of wood and 
bone. Workmen were always busy adding to this 
store. 

Skilled workmen Montezuma likewise employed 
in every craft that the Mexicans knew — in the cut- 
ting and polishing of precious stones, in working 
and smelting of gold and silver in which they as- 
tonish even the great goldsmiths of Spain.* Mas- 
ters in painting and feather-work and sculpture also 
wrought for him, and there are still in Mexico 
artists so skilful that had they lived in the days of 
the ancient Greek Apelles, or of Michael Angelo of 
our own time, their work would be in their company. 
The women are especially skilful in weaving fabrics 
of the finest threads and wonderfully interweaving 
feathers. In the house of Montezuma, daughters 
of caciques made the most beautiful stuffs, and others 
who lived in other houses in retirement, like nuns, 
also did weaving especially of feathers. Houses for 
such nuns stood near a great temple of Huitzilopoch- 
tli, god of war, and also elsewhere in devotion to 
certain goddesses, and in them dwelt Indian girls 
until they married.f 

* Here in Mexico, as at times elsewhere in human history, real 
barbarism was mitigated and made appealing by most marvellous 
perfection in details of industrial art. 

t Very charmingly expressed advices of a Mexican mother to 



i6o The Mastering of Mexico 

Montezuma had also plantations of medicinal and 
useful herbs, gardens for the culture of flowers and 
trees, where countless birds sang and nested among 
the branches, and ponds and baths of fresh water 
where the water came in at one end and flowed out 
at the other. All the ponds and tanks were sub- 
stantially walled with masonry, well cemented, as 
was also the theatre where his singers, dancers and 
clowns performed. 

her daughter still live in writings of the old missionary, Saha- 
gun. The following extracts are from Prescott's " Conquest of 
Mexico": — "This I tell 50U that you may know that I and your 
father are sources of your being; it is we who now instruct you. 
See that you receive our words and treasure them in your breast. 
Take care that your garments are such as are decent and proper; 
and observe that you do not adorn yourself with much finery, 
since this is a mark of vanity and folly. Let your clothes be be- 
coming and neat that you may appear neither fantastic nor mean. 

" When you speak do not hurry jour words from uneasiness, 
but speak deliberately and calmly. Do not raise your voice very 
high, nor speak very low, but in a moderate tone. Neither mince 
when you speak, nor when you salute, nor speak through your 
nose; but let your words be proper, of a good sound and your 
voice gentle. 

" In walking, my daughter, see that you behave becomingly, 
neither going with haste nor too slowly, and when you are in the 
street do not carry your head much inclined or your body bent; 
nor as little go with )our head very much raised, since it is 
mark of ill-breeding. Walk through the streets quietly and with 
propriety. Another thing that you must attend to, my daughter, 
is, that, when you are in the street, you do not go looking hither 
and thither, nor turning your head to look at this and that. Look 
upon those you meet with serene countenance, and give no one 
occasion of being offended with you. See, my daughter, that you 
give yourself no concern abovit the words you may hear, in going 



What We Saw in Mexico i6i 

Then the monarch had an aviary. It is indeed 
difficult for me to restrain myself from telling too 
minutely of this. For there was in it, in the full 
splendor of plumage, every species of bird from the 
royal eagle to tiny birds of many colors, — even to 
the birds from whose green plumage they make their 
beautiful green feather work. All these birds had 
houses, and men and women keepers fed them proper 
food, cleaned their nests and set them for breeding. 
In the courtyard stood a large tank of fresh water, 

through the street, nor pay any regard to them, let those who come 
and go say what they will. Take care that you neither answer 
nor speak, but act as if you neither heard nor understood. See, 
likewise, my daughter, that you never paint your face, nor stain 
it, nor your lips, with colors in order to appear well. Paints and 
colorings are things which bad women use — the immodest, who 
have lost shame and even sense, who are like fools and drunkards. 

"Adorn yourself, wash yourself, and cleanse your clothes; but 
do this with moderation. My daughter, this is the course for 
you to take, since in this manner the ancestors from whom you 
sprang brought us up. Those noble and venerable dames, your 
grandmothers, told us not so many things as I have told you. My 
tenderly loved daughter, my little dove, keep this illustration in 
your heart. 

" When it shall please God that you receive a husband, be 
free from arrogance, see that you do not neglect him or allow 
your heart to be in opposition to him. Beware that in no time 
nor place you commit treason against him. Remember that 
though no man sees you, nor your husband ever knows, God, 
who is in every place, sees you, and will be angry with you 
and will permit you to have neither contentment nor tranquillity. 
My dear daughter, whom I love, see that you live in the world 
in peace and contentment all the days you shall live. May God 
prosper you, my first-born, and may you come to God who is in 
every place." 



1 62 The Mastering of Mexico 

and in it were those water fowls of stilt legs and 
plumage of red called flamingos. 

In another great house they kept terrible idols, 
and with them beasts of prey, such as tigers, hons, 
jackals, foxes, and other flesh-eating animals. They 
fed them on deer, turkeys, dogs and such like, and 
I have heard it said, also, the bodies of Indians 
sacrificed they gave to these fierce beasts in their 
abominable dens — in which also were vipers and 
other poisonous snakes, among them one which car- 
ries at the end of the tail a kind of rattle. When 
all the lions and tigers roared together, and jackals 
and foxes howled and the serpents hissed, it was 
horrible to hear and you could not think otherwise 
than that you were in hell. 

We had been four days in the city of Mexico, and 
neither our captain nor any of us had left our quar- 
ters except to visit the gardens and buildings near 
by. Cortes now said to us that we should see the 
great plaza, and the chief temple of the god of war, 
and he sent Donna Marina and Aguilar to ask per- 
mission. When the monarch knew our wishes he 
said we were welcome to go; still, since he was ap- 
prehensive that we might do some dishonor to his 
gods, he would himself go with us and bring a com- 
pany of caciques. He came, and in a rich litter, 
but when he was half way between his palace and the 
temple, he left the litter, for he deemed it lack of 



What We Saw in Mexico 



163 




With the City of Mexico as a centre, many cities and villages 
grouped round the lake. A few are here named. 



What We Saw in Mexico 165 

respect to approach his idols otherwise than on foot. 
As he walked he leaned on the arms of some of his 
caciques, and others went before him holding high 
two staves, like sceptres, which signified that the 
monarch was approaching. He ascended the steps 
of the temple in company with many papas, and on 
reaching the top began to burn incense and perform 
other ceremonies to Huitzilopochtli. 

We for our part entered the temple yards and 
found them paved with white flagstones, and where 
stones were wanting, with cement, all kept so very 
clean one could not find the smallest particle of dust 
or straw anywhere, and enclosed by a double wall 
of stone. Before we had mounted a single one of 
the one hundred and fourteen steps of the temple, 
Montezuma sent down six priests and two chiefs to 
help our captain up. They were going to take him 
by the arms, just as they helped Montezuma. 
Cortes, however, would not permit them to aid him. 

When we reached the summit we saw a platform 
set about with large stones, on which they put those 
doomed for sacrifice, and near by was an image 
shaped like a dragon, and other abominable figures, 
and a quantity of fresh blood. Montezuma him- 
self accompanied by two papas came out of a chapel 
in which his cursed idols were standing and received 
us with courtesy. " Ascending this great temple of 
ours, Malinche, must have fatigued you," he said; 



i66 The Mastering of Mexico 

on which Cortes assured him that nothing ever tired 
him and his companions. The monarch then took 
him by the hand and told him to look down on his 
great city, and all the other cities standing in the 
water and the many other towns on land round the 
lake. Indeed the accursed temple stood so high that 
we could see the great causeway leading to the city, 
and the aqueduct which provides the whole town 
with sweet water from Chapultepec. We could see 
also the bridges of the three causeways, and canoes 
speeding in the lake, coming with supplies of food 
and going with bales of merchandise. And in all 
the towns temples rose gleaming white, like towers 
and castles in our Spanish towns, and made a picture 
wonderful to see. 

We looked down also on the great market place, 
and the crowds of people in it, so many buying and 
selling that the hum of their voices could be heard 
miles away. Some of our old soldiers who had been 
in Constantinople, and Rome, and many parts of 
the world, said they never had seen a market place 
so large, so crowded and so well arranged. Every 
kind of merchandise had its separate spot for sale 
— gold and silver wares, cotton and hennequen 
cloths, twisted thread, tanned and untanned skins 
of tigers, lions, red deer, wild cats and other beasts 
of prey, beans, sage, cacao and other vegetables, 
fowls, rabbits, deer, dogs, and other meats, fruit of 



What We Saw in Mexico 167 

all kinds, cooked foods, honey and honey and nut 
pastes, every sort of earthern ware, and copper, brass 
and tin, furniture such as tables, benches, cradles — 
but why do I waste words when I can not note down 
the details of this great market! Before turning 
from these sights Cortes said to Fray Bartolome de 
Olmedo, " We should, perhaps, take this opportunity 
to ask permission to build our church here"; to 
which the padre answered that it would be excellent, 
if Montezuma would grant it, but it seemed to him 
overhasty to make the proposition now when prob- 
ably the monarch would be little disposed to it. 
Cortes then asked the favor of seeing the idols and 
teules. After Montezuma had spoken to his chief 
priests, we entered a small tower in which there were 
two altars with richly wrought carvings. On each 
altar stood a figure, gigantic, very fat, and that on 
the right represented their god of war, Huitzilo- 
pochtli.* This idol had a very broad face with ter- 
rible eyes, and was covered with precious stones, 
gold and pearls. Great snakes, likewise made of 
gold and precious stones, girdled the body of the 
monster, which in one hand held a bow, in the other 
a bunch of arrows. A small figure standing by its 
side they said was his page, at any rate it held the 
idol's short lance and shield decorated with gold and 
jewels. Round the neck of Huitzilopochtli were 

* See note on foregoing page 28. 



i68 The Mastering of Mexico 

figures of human faces made of gold, and hearts of 
silver set with many precious blue stones. In front 
of the image stood several incense pans in which the 
hearts of three Indians, who had that day been 
sacrificed, were burning with copal as a burnt-offer- 
ing. The walls of the chapel and the whole floor 
were so encrusted with human blood that they were 
black, and the stench of the place was unendurable. 

On the left hand stood another figure of the same 
size as that of Huitzilopochtli. Its face was very 
like that of a bear, and its shining eyes were made 
of the looking glass of their country. This idol, like 
the other, for they say they are brothers, was 
plastered with precious stones. It was Tezcatlipoca, 
god of hell, and in charge of the souls of the Mexi- 
cans. His body was encircled by little devils with 
snakes' tails. The walls and floor round this idol, 
too, were saturated with blood so that the place 
smelled as vilely as a slaughter house in Spain. Five 
human hearts were that day's sacrifice to him. 

At the very top of this temple rose another chapel, 
the woodwork richly carved, and in it was another 
image, half man and half lizard, covered with pre- 
cious stones, and half of the body spread with a 
mantle. They said the half-covered body held seeds 
of every plant of the earth, for this image represented 
the god of seed time and harvest. I have forgotten 
its name but not that here, also, everything was cov- 



What We Saw in Mexico 169 

ered with blood and the stench so offensive that we 
could hardly wait till we could get out. In this 
chapel was an enormous drum, which made a dismal 
noise when they beat it, like a drum of hell so to 
speak, and its head of the skins of snakes resounded 
so it could be heard as many as eight miles. In this 
place, also, were trumpets, slaughter knives and burnt 
hearts of Indians offered to the god — and every- 
thing clotted with blood. We hastened away from 
the horrors. 

Our captain now said to Montezuma, " I can not 
imagine how such a wise man and powerful monarch 
as you should not have discovered that these idols 
of yours are evil spirits. That it may be proved to 
you, and that your papas may see it clearly, permit 
me to set a cross here at the top of this temple, and 
in the place where Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca 
stand give me space to put up an image of Our Lady. 
Then you will see by the fear that will seize these 
idols that they have been deceiving you." 

Montezuma had already seen an image of Our 
Lady, yet he was greatly irritated, and answered, 
" Malinche, if I had supposed that you would say 
such evil things, I certainly should not have shown 
you my gods. We think them good gods. They 
give us health, rains, good weather and good harv- 
ests, and victory when we ask them for it. Most 
earnestly I beg you to say no more to insult them." 



170 The Mastering of Mexico 

When Cortes heard this protest, and saw the ex- 
citement of the monarch and the two papas who 
stood by, he said in cheerful wise to Montezuma, " It 
is time for us to go." Montezuma answered that 
he would not keep us longer, but he himself must 
stay and atone to his gods by prayer and sacrifice 
for his sin in permitting us to ascend the great temple 
and affront them. " In that case," returned Cortes, 
" I ask your pardon." Upon that we descended. 

A little apart from the chief temple was another 
small tower, also an idol house. Rather I should 
term it a temple of hell, for at one of its doors was 
a terrible demon mouth fitted with great fangs. 
Near it also stood figures of devils and serpents, and 
an altar encrusted with blood and black with smoke. 
Further within were dishes and other basins in which 
the priests cooked the flesh of the unfortunates whom 
they sacrificed — the flesh they themselves ate. 
Near the altar were knives and wooden blocks such 
as those they cut meat upon in slaughter houses, and 
behind that cursed house lay piles of firewood and a 
tank of running water. I called the place " The 
House of Satan." 

Beyond the splendid courtyard stood another 
temple, stained with blood and smoke, where great 
Mexican caciques were buried, and another holding 
human skulls and bones piled in orderly fashion. 
Here also other idols, and other priests clad in long 



What We Saw in Mexico 171 

black robes with hoods shaped like those worn by 
Dominican friars. The hair of these papas was 
long and matted with clotted blood. At no great 
distance from this place of skulls stood other temples 
to still other gods said to be protectors of marriage. 
One, where abominable human sacrifices were offered, 
was for men, and another for women in which women 
made sacrifices and held festivals in endeavor to in- 
duce the gods to give them good husbands. 

Cortes and the rest of us at last grew weary of 
seeing so many idols and the horrible utensils used 
about them and we returned to our lodgings accom- 
panied by the many caciques Montezuma had sent 
as our escort. 



CHAPTER XII 

How, in setting up an altar, we found a secret treasure; and 
why we visited Montezuma and took him to our quarters 
as prisoner; how he spent his time; and how we built 
two sloops and sailed them on the lake; adding the story 
of a hawk. 

Now that our captain and Fray Bartolome de 
Olmedo knew that Montezuma was not willing we 
should set a cross on the chief temple, or build a 
chapel there, we asked the house-stewards for masons 
to build us a church in our quarters. The stewards 
referred our request to Montezuma, who generously 
ordered that we be given what we wished. Our 
church was soon done, a cross set up, and mass said 
every day as long as the wine lasted. Then we went 
there every day and prayed in front of the altar and 
images, not only because we were obliged by our 
faith to follow this holy habit, but also that Monte- 
zuma and his caciques might notice our devotion 
and see us on our knees before the cross, particularly 
when we said the Ave Maria. 

Wherever we went it was our custom carefully to 
examine everj'thing. So it happened that as we were 
searching for a best place to set up our altar, one of 

172 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 173 

our men who was a carpenter, noticed traces, all 
neatly plastered over, of a doorway in the wall of 
one of our apartments. Report that the treasure 
of Montezuma's father was secreted somewhere in 
our quarters had reached us, and our carpenter con- 
jectured that this doorway might be the very open- 
ing to the treasury. He told two of our chief offi- 
cers, relatives of mine, and these officers carried the 
conjecture to Cortes. The door was thereupon 
secretly opened, and Cortes with several officers went 
in. They found such vast quantities of jewels, thick 
and thin plates of gold, chalchihuites and other riches 
heaped together that they were quite speechless at 
the sight. News of the treasure now spread to all 
of our men, and very secretly we all went in to view 
it. I was still a young man and had never seen vast 
riches, but I felt sure there could not be another 
such mass in all the world. However, all our offi- 
cers agreed that we should leave it untouched, and 
that the doorway should be walled up as before, and 
we should not speak of it lest Montezuma learn of 
our discovery. 

All of us, officers and soldiers, were men of energy 
and experience, who believed that our master, Jesus 
Christ, aided us with his divine hand, and we now 
deputed four officers and twelve of our most trusted 
and faithful soldiers, of whom I was one, to represent 
to Cortes how we were cooped up in this strong city. 



174 The Mastering of Mexico 

as if in a trap or cage. We begged him to remem- 
ber the causeways and bridges, how people of the 
towns we had passed through had cautioned us that 
Montezuma was acting as his god HuItzilopochtH 
had advised — that he allow us to enter the city and 
then fall on and slay us; we begged him not to trust 
to the kindness and good will of Montezuma, for 
the hearts of men, and of Indians in particular, are 
inconstant; all this friendship might end in a moment, 
at a whim of Montezuma, for he had merely to 
attack us with the sword, or cut off our food and 
water, or draw up the bridges, and we should be 
helpless; considering the troops of warriors Monte- 
zuma had always about him, how should we be able 
to defend ourselves? — since all the houses stood In 
the water, how could we count on the aid of our 
friends, the Tlaxcalans? — taking a broad view, we 
had no other way to safeguard our lives but to seize 
Montezuma, and that without further delay; all the 
gold he had given us, all we had seen in the secret 
treasury, all the food set before us could not conceal 
facts from us; such thoughts as these harassed us 
day and night and were always In our minds; and If 
among us there were those heedless of the trap we 
were in, they were senseless, their eyes dazzled by 
gold and incapable of seeing the death that stood 
before them. 

When Cortes heard our plea he said, " Do not 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 175 

imagine, gentlemen, that I sleep in peace, or that 
what you state has not caused me the anxiety you 
express. But let us weigh well first. Are we strong 
enough in numbers to seize this great monarch in 
the midst of his guards and other warriors? By 
what bold deed can we so do this that he will not 
call on his warriors to attack us at once? " 

Four of our officers said that the only way was to 
entice Montezuma out of his palace into our quarters, 
and then tell him he must remain a prisoner and if 
he offered any resistence or cried out, he must die. 
If our captain did not himself wish any hand in such 
a business, the officers said that they themselves 
would carry it out, for between the two dangers in 
which we stood it was better for us to take the mon- 
arch prisoner then to wait till he made war on us — 
for if he attacked us, what escape should we have? 
Moreover, some of us soldiers told Cortes that the 
house-steward who supplied us food had taken on 
haughty airs and did not supply us so well as at first. 
Lastly, our allies, the Tlaxcalans, had secretly said 
to our interpreter, Aguilar, that the Mexicans these 
last two days had not seemed kindly disposed toward 
us. 

One whole hour we spent deliberating whether or 
not we should take Montezuma prisoner, and how 
the deed was to be done. At last we came to full con- 
clusion, and Cortes gave his consent. All that fol- 



176 The Mastering of Mexico 

lowing night we spent in prayer, asking the Al- 
mighty's support in our holy cause. 

The next morning two Tlaxcalans secretly got into 
our quarters and brought from Vera Cruz a letter 
announcing that Juan de Escalante, whom, we said 
some chapters back,* we had left behind as governor 
of Vera Cruz, six other Spaniards, and all the 
Totonacs in his company had met death in a battle 
with Mexican warriors. So also a horse. The 
story went that Mexican caciques had demanded 
tribute; our allies, the Totonacs, had refused to pay 
it; Escalante had commanded the Mexicans to leave 
the Totonacs in peace; to which the Mexicans had 
sent a contemptuous answer. Engagements fol- 
lowed, and in our defeat our allies turned against 
us and refused to bring food or serve the garrison. 
Faith that we Spaniards were teules had vanished. 
Both Totonacs and Mexicans threatened our little 
settlement, and instead of veneration now expressed 
contempt. 

Only God could know what sorrow this news gave 
us. It was the first defeat we had suffered in New 
Spain. Any hearty reader of this narrative sees 
how rapidly our fortune was changing from good to 
bad. We had entered this great city with a splendid 
and triumphant reception, we had been in possession 
of rich presents which Montezuma every day gave 

* Pages 83 and 84. 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 177 

both our captain and ourselves; we had seen the 
treasure house filled with gold; we had known the 
people believed us teules who could not fail of victory 
in battle. Now their delusion had fled; they would 
look upon us as like other men, liable to defeat, and 
we should soon see their insolence toward us grow- 
ing. Now more than ever it behooved us to get pos- 
session of Montezuma's person. 

We made final arrangements after our night of 
prayer that our bold attempt might redound to the 
glory of God. When Cortes sent to tell Monte- 
zuma that we were about to pay him a visit, the 
monarch more or less understood that our captain 
was coming because of the battle that had taken place 
on the coast, and he had misgivings, yet he sent word 
that Cortes should come and would be welcome. 
Our captain took with him five officers, Alvarado, 
Sandoval, Lugo, Leon and Avila, and also me and 
our interpreters, Donna Marina and Aguilar. We 
all went completely armed, and our whole troop 
stayed behind ready for march and horses saddled. 

Cortes made his usual felicitations when he entered 
the monarch's apartments and then said through his 
interpreters, " I am greatly astonished that so valiant 
a ruler as you, who publishes himself our friend, 
should command your warriors near the coast to take 
up arms against my Spaniards, and should dare to 
demand from towns under the protection of my king. 



178 The Mastering of Mexico 

Indian men and women for sacrifice ! Nor is this 
all. They have killed one of my brothers [Cortes 
prudently did not wish to speak of Escalante and six 
soldiers who died as soon as they got back to the 
coast encampment, for Montezuma did not then know 
of this] and a horse. How differently we for our 
part have done ! As your friend I told my officers 
to do all they could to meet your wishes. You have 
ordered the very opposite. A little time ago you 
sent many warriors to Cholula to destroy us. From 
the friendship I bore you I did not then tell you I 
knew the fact. But now again your warriors auda- 
ciously plot to kill us. For this treachery I will not 
make war on you, nor destroy this city. But that 
we may keep peace between us, you must quietly 
come to our quarters and stay with us there. You 
shall be well served, as well as if you were In your 
own palace. If you now make any alarm, or cry 
out, these officers of mine here will kill you at once, 
for that purpose only I brought them with me." 

At these words a sudden terror struck Monte- 
zuma and he was for a time speechless. At length, 
however, he answered that he had never ordered his 
people to take up arms against us, and he would at 
once send for his chief warriors and find out the 
truth. Saying this he loosened the seal of Huitzllo- 
pochtli which he wore round his wrist and only took 
from his arm when he issued orders of importance 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 179 

that were to be at once executed. As to our pre- 
sumption In proposing to take him away from his 
house, he said he was astounded, that he was not 
one from whom we should make such a demand and 
he was not minded to go. 

Cortes in return gave very good arguments for 
our having come to our conclusions, but Montezuma 
brought even stronger showing why he should not 
leave his house. In this way above half an hour 
went by, when Juan Velasquez de Leon, whose voice 
was uncommonly loud and harsh, spoke out to Cortes 
and in what he said expressed the feelings of the 
other officers impatiently sitting by, " What's the use 
of making so many words? He must either go 
quietly with us, or we cut him down on the spot. 
Tell him once more that if he cries out we shall kill 
him. On this depend our lives." 

When Montezuma saw the black looks of our 
officers, and heard Leon's rough voice, he asked 
Donna Marina what the man who spoke so loud said. 
Marina, who, as I have before remarked, was very 
clever and knew well how to give a good answer, 
repHed, " Great ruler, what I counsel is that you go 
at once to their quarters and build up no further 
difficulties. I know they will pay you every respect 
belonging to a great cacique. If you remain here 
they will cut you down." 

Thereupon Montezuma turned to Cortes. " Mai- 



i8o The Mastering of Mexico 

inche," he said, " I have a son and two daughters. 
Take them as hostages. Do not put such a disgrace 
upon me as to demand my person. What will my 
caciques say if they see me led off prisoner?" But 
Cortes answered that the monarch's own person was 
the only guarantee of our safety, and there was no 
other way of easing our minds. Finally, at the end 
of much more discussion, the ruler determined to go 
quietly with us, and as soon as he had declared his 
purpose, our captain and officers showed him every 
civility, begging him to pardon their insistence and 
to tell his guards and warriors that he had advised 
with Huitzilopochtli and his attendant papas and 
finally had of his own free will taken up residence 
in our quarters. His splendid litter which he used 
when he left his palace with all his suite was then 
brought, and he went with us to our quarters. There 
we placed guards over him. 

The messengers through whom Montezuma sum- 
moned the warriors by the seal of Huitzilopochtli, 
brought the warring caciques from the coast as 
prisoners. What the monarch said to them when 
they stood before him I do not know, but in the end 
he sent them to Cortes for judgment. Then these 
unfortunate men confessed that Montezuma had 
commanded them to levy tribute by force of arms, 
and if any tcules should protect those rebelling 
against the levy, to put them also to the sword. 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma i8i 

Cortes sent word to the monarch that what the men 
said involved him also. Thereupon Montezuma 
fell to excusing himself; upon which our captain said 
that for himself he believed the warriors' confession, 
and that, according to the laws of our country, the 
ruler himself deserved punishment; yet our captain's 
love for him was so great that, even if he were 
guilty, he, Cortes, would himself pay the penalty 
rather than that Montezuma should suffer. 

Cortes now sentenced the warriors to be burned 
in front of the ruler's palace, and that there might 
be no outbreak while the sentence was carried out, 
Cortes ordered Montezuma to be put in chains. 
Grief overcame the monarch when this was done, and 
he moaned, but in the end, after the execution was 
over, Cortes with five of his officers went to his apart- 
ment where our captain himself took off the fetters, 
and spoke with such affection, saying that although 
Montezuma was already lord of many countries he 
would make him master of many more, and if he 
now wished to go to his palace he would give him 
leave, that even while Cortes was speaking tears 
welled in the monarch's eyes and rolled down his 
cheeks. He answered with courtesy, knowing all he 
heard was mere words, that he thanked Cortes for 
his kindness and for the present he preferred to stay 
where he was. 

In this way I have told how the great Montezuma 



1 82 The Mastering of Mexico 

was imprisoned. In our quarters his household still 
surrounded him and he bathed daily as was his wont 
in his own palace. He himself showed not the least 
anger at his confinement. Twenty of his chief 
counsellors always stayed with him. He collected 
tribute, settled disputes, and attended to affairs of 
state as before. The visiting caciques waited on 
him and, no matter how great the cacique, paid him 
the same veneration as before, taking off their fine 
garments, putting on those of hennequen and coming 
barefoot before him. Nor did they enter at the 
chief gate, but by a side door and approaching with 
their customary three prostrations and down-cast 
eyes and their " Lord, my Lord, my great Lord," 
by means of pictures drawn and painted on hen- 
nequen cloths they told him of their suit or other 
difliculty about which they wished to consult him, 
with thin sticks pointing to the different objects drawn 
to explain the nature of the suit and what they 
wanted. Two elders who were distinguished ca- 
ciques stood on these occasions near Montezuma and 
when they had understood the pleas, they told 
Montezuma the arguments and the monarch in a 
few words pronounced his judgment. With three 
deep bows, and without uttering a syllable or turning 
their backs, the parties to the suit then retired, and 
once out of the presence of Montezuma put on their 
rich garments and went strolling through Mexico. 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 183 

When Mexican chiefs and his nephews called upon 
Montezuma they asked the reasons for his Imprison- 
ment, and if they should make war and free him. 
If he were once, they said, outside our quarters, the 
people would rise up in arms. But he answered 
that he did not wish sedition In the city, and if he did 
not join them they would want to put a new ruler 
in his place; and he silenced them by saying he was 
doing himself the pleasure of staying a few days with 
us, and when he wished to complain he would tell 
them; and that they must not stir up the people or 
make any trouble, for this visit of his was with the 
consent of the god Huitzilopochtli whom certain 
papas had consulted. 

All the entertainment we could think of Cortes and 
every one of us brought forward, and on the whole 
Montezuma became fairly content with the attention 
we showed him and he continually felt greater de- 
light in our company. Whenever any of us were 
with him we doffed our helmets and bore ourselves 
with most marked civility, and he treated us with 
greatest politeness. Our captain was a man who 
thought carefully in all things, as I have said, and 
now he strove that the monarch might not feel his 
imprisonment too deeply. Therefore every morn- 
ing, after we had said our prayers, Cortes accom- 
panied by four officers went to ask how he was, and 
what he would like, until the monarch one day de- 



184 The Mastering of Mexico 

clared that his confinement did not weary him be- 
cause our gods had given us power to talce him 
prisoner and HuitzilopochtH had agreed to it. 

Sometimes Montezuma and Cortes played at a 
game the Mexicans call totoloc. It is played with 
smooth small balls, which here were made of gold, 
pitched at certain slabs. Five throws made up the 
game and gold and silver trinkets were the stakes. 
I still remember that once Pedro de Alvarado was 
scoring for Cortes, and one of his nephews, a noted 
cacique, for the monarch, and Alvarado always 
marked one more point than Cortes had gained. 
Upon this Montezuma observed, courteously and 
laughingly, that he was not exactly pleased with the 
way Tonatio (so they called Alvarado) kept the 
count, because he made so much ixoxol in his score — 
which in their speech means that he cheated, in that 
he always marked one score too many. 

In those days I was quite a young fellow and 
whenever I was sentinel in his apartment I behaved 
with such respect that he inquired who I was and 
sent me offer of a present. I thanked him for his 
kindness and hoped God would bless him. When 
the interpreter gave my answer, Montezuma said, 
" Bernal Diaz seems to me to have the feelings of 
a well-bred man," and to his gift he added three 
plates of gold and two packages of cotton stuffs. 

Of a morning it was his habit to say his prayers 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 185 

the first thing and make sacrifice to his gods. He 
then took his breakfast, which was a light meal, for 
he ate only chili peppers and no meat. After this 
he gave audience for an hour to those caciques who, 
as I have told, came from a distance to lay disputes 
before him and have his judgment. The rest of the 
day he spent in amusement, particularly with his 
wives. So Montezuma passed his time with us, now 
and then laughing, now and then reflecting on his 
imprisonment. 

After the execution of the Mexican warriors and 
Montezuma had worn our fetters, our captain de- 
termined to despatch a man of good presence, who 
was also an excellent musician, Alonzo de Grado, 
to Vera Cruz with the powers of lieutenant. Grado 
was one of those who had always opposed our going 
on to Mexico, and who fomented dissatisfaction dur- 
ing our stay in Tlaxcala and insisted on our return 
to the coast. If he had been as good a soldier as he 
was a man of good address, his conduct of affairs 
would have been different. Even Cortes, In giving 
him the appointment said rather jokingly, " Alonzo 
de Grado, you now are having fulfilled your wish of 
going to Vera Cruz. There you will labor at build- 
ing the fortress. But keep out of warlike expedi- 
tions, and don't get killed as Juan de Escalante did." 
In saying this Cortes winked his eye at us soldiers 
who were standing round, as much as to say that we 



1 86 The Mastering of Mexico 

knew Grado would not go on such an expedition un- 
less dragged there by the hair of his head. Cortes 
particularly desired him to watch most zealously over 
Interests of the settlers at Vera Cruz, and not allow 
any ill-treatment of the Indians. But heeding in no 
way this excellent advice, Grado troubled himself 
little about completing the fortress, and spent all his 
time in feasting and gambling. Cortes, therefore, 
sent Gonzalo de Sandoval, who had been chief con- 
stable since the death of Escalante, to despatch Grado 
to Mexico under a guard of Indians; and to forward 
also the two blacksmiths of the town with all their 
bellows, tools and much Iron from the ships we had 
destroyed — such as two heavy iron chains, and also 
sails, pitch, and a mariner's compass, in short every- 
thing needed to build two sloops with which we might 
sail the lake of Mexico. 

When the material for the sloops had come, 
Cortes at once told Montezuma that he wished to 
build two small pleasure yachts, and asked leave to 
send carpenters to cut oak timber growing about 
sixteen miles away. Many Indian carpenters helped, 
and soon the boats were done and their masts and 
rigging set, even to an awning to keep off the heat 
of the sun. Both turned out to be uncommonly fast 
sailers, for Martin Lopez, our carpenter who 
modeled them, was a master in his craft as well as a 
good soldier. 



Why We Imprisoned Montezuma 187 

When Montezuma heard the yachts were 
launched, he sent word to Cortes that he wanted to 
go hunting on an island where he had a game pre- 
serve. In that place no one but Montezuma, not 
even a cacique, dared hunt. Cortes answered that 
there were no objections to the monarch's going, but 
if his warriors and priests formed any plan of seiz- 
ing him, his life would be in danger, and that he 
should go in our yachts or sloops, which were swifter 
and safer than canoes. This offer vastly pleased 
Montezuma and he went on board with a large suite, 
Cortes ordering four officers and two hundred of our 
troops to accompany him and watch narrowly the 
person of the monarch. That day there was a stiff 
breeze blowing and we were able to work the sails 
so well that the boats went flying across the lake. 
Royal huntsmen followed in canoes which, notwith- 
standing numbers of rowers, could not keep up with 
us but fell far behind. This greatly amused Monte- 
zuma and he said it showed great skill, our com- 
bining of the power of sails and oars. At the island 
Montezuma made vast slaughter of deer, hares and 
rabbits and returned quite contented. As we neared 
the city our officers ordered the cannon fired, and 
this gave the monarch new pleasure. Indeed we 
found him so open and frank that we had genuine 
pleasure in treating him with the respect in which 
he was held by his ov/n people. 



i88 The Mastering of Mexico 

If I were to tell the veneration and service paid 
him by all the caciques of the country, I should find 
no end. Not a thing he wished that was not brought, 
even if it were on the wing. For instance, one day 
when some of us were with him a hawk swooped 
down through an open hall upon a quail; for the 
Indian steward who had charge of cleaning our rooms 
kept some quail and pigeons. When the hawk 
seized and carried off its quarry, one of our men 
cried, " What a fine hawk! and how well he flew! " 
We all united in saying how capital It was, and that 
the country abounded in birds for hawking. Monte- 
zuma observing our lively talk asked what we were 
saying; and when the interpreter explained that If 
we had such a bird we would teach it to fly from the 
hand and attack any bird of any size and kill It, the 
monarch said, " Then I will have this very hawk 
caught, and we shall see If you can teach It and hunt 
with it." Upon this we all doffed our caps and 
thanked him for his kindness. He at once sum- 
moned his bird-catchers and told them to bring that 
hawk. Before the hour of the Ave Maria they 
actually brought the very bird. So It was, even now, 
In his confinement, his subjects stood In such awe of 
him that if he expressed wish for them, they brought 
him birds that flew In the skies above. 



CHAPTER XIII 

How Montezuma visited the chief temple; his nepheWj 
Cacamatzin, conspired against him; and finally how the 
caciques swore allegiance to our king; what the Span- 
iards whom Cortes sent out to find gold, reported. 
Montezuma's gift of the vast treasure of his fathers and 
its division among us. 

In these days, also, Montezuma told Cortes that 
he wished to pay his devotions and make sacrifices 
at his chief temple, not only in fulfilling his religious 
duties but also to convince his caciques, and especially 
his nephews, who daily begged him to permit them 
to rescue him, that by his own choice and the con- 
sent of Huitzilopochtli he stayed with us. Cortes 
told him he might go and welcome, but if the caciques 
and papas should attack our soldiers or make any 
disorder to release him, our men would at once take 
his life. Moreover, he must not sacrifice any human 
being, for that was a sin against the true God we had 
made known to him. Neither could Cortes refrain 
from adding that it would be better for him to pray 
before our altars and the image of Our Lady. 

Montezuma pledged that he would not sacrifice 
any humans, and then set out in pomp of state, on 
his litter, with many caciques carrying his staff of 

189 



190 The Mastering of Mexico 

authority in front of him, and with four of our offi- 
cers, scores of our soldiers, and Padre de Olmedo 
to hold him to his pledge about sacrifices. When we 
neared the temple of Huitzilopochtli, his nephews 
and other chieftains assisted the monarch from his 
litter and carried him on their shoulders, all the ca- 
ciques in reverence keeping their eyes on the ground 
as he passed. At the foot of the temple many papas 
waited to aid him in mounting the steps. The 
monarch was not long at his devotions and went back 
appearing in better spirits, and giving each of us who 
had gone with him presents of gold. But we found 
that the night before the papas had sacrificed four 
Indians in spite of all our captain and Padre de 
Olmedo had done and said. All we could now do 
was to feign ignorance of their deed, for Monte- 
zuma's nephews, intent on rebellion, had roused 
Mexico and other great towns. 

The good reader will recall that some chapters 
back I told how Montezuma's nephew, Cacamatzin, 
lord of Texcoco, the largest town in all that country 
after Mexico, came toward us four hundred Span- 
iards as we drew near the capital city and, with show 
of regal pomp, bade us welcome in behalf of his 
uncle. When this prince now knew that with Monte- 
zuma imprisoned we were taking all the power we 
could get — even that we had opened, although we 
had not taken anything from it, the chamber where 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 191 

lay the treasure of his grandfather — he determined 
to end our dominion. He called to council all the 
caciques who were his vassals, and with them rela- 
tives who were princes of other towns and provinces, 
especially the lord of Matalcingo, a man of courage, 
so nearly related to Montezuma that many said he 
was the rightful heir to the monarchy. 

While Cacamatzin was negotiating with these 
chieftains to fix a day when they should fall upon us 
with their united armies, the cacique of Matalcingo 
said that if Cacamatzin would assure him of his ele- 
vation to the throne, he and all his relatives and all 
his people would be the first to take up arms and turn 
us out of the city, or put us to the sword. Cacamat- 
zin answered the cacique of Matalcingo, however, 
that the crown belonged to him as nephew of Monte- 
zuma and, if he of Matalcingo did not wish to join, 
himself, Cacamatzin and all the others would be able 
to overcome us without his aid. Of all this Monte- 
zuma duly received intelligence from the aggrieved 
cacique of Matalcingo. 

The monarch, extremely prudent and unwilling to 
see his city In blood and rebellion, told Cortes of the 
conspiracy, of which we had, indeed, heard in gen- 
eral terms. The advice of Cortes was that Monte- 
zuma should put his Mexican troops under our cap- 
tain's command and we should fall upon Texcoco and 
destroy the town. It was clear this advice did not 



192 The Mastering of Mexico 

suit the monarch, and Cortes sent Cacamatzin word 
that we wished to have him for a friend, but if he 
began war it would mean his death. He was a 
young hotbrain, however, this Cacamatzin, and oth- 
ers of the same sort strengthened him in his opinions, 
and he sent haughty answers to all the warnings our 
captain offered. At length, when his insolence had 
become too gross for endurance, when Montezuma 
had sent trustworthy messengers begging Cacamatzin 
to come and confer with him, saying the abiding in 
our quarters lay wholly with himself and Malinche 
had twice told him to return to his own palace, but 
he had refused to go because the papas had said he 
must stay with us, if he would not be a dead man — 
and when Cacamatzin had again summoned his ca- 
ciques and In a haughty and traitorous speech had as- 
sured them that he would kill us all within four days, 
and his uncle, Montezuma, had a rabbit's heart, 
otherwise he would have attacked us as we were 
coming down the mountains, as he had advised him 
doing — and after many plans and promises of what 
he, Cacamatzin, would do for their enriching when 
he should get the lordship of Mexico — and after 
the caciques had refused to join him in his traitorous 
design, and he had sent word to Montezuma that 
he might have spared himself asking him, Cacamat- 
zin, to make friends with those who had done the 
monarch dishonor, possible only because we were 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 193 

enchanters and had stolen away his reason and en- 
ergy by wizardry given us by our gods and the great 
Spanish Lady whom we called our protectress — only 
after Montezuma had heard and considered his 
nephew's insolence and excesses, did he give trusted 
caciques his seal and orders to go to Texcoco and 
seize and bring the young hothead to Mexico. When 
this was accomplished, Cacamatzin became the pris- 
oner of Cortes. 

From all this the reader may well imagine on how 
short a thread our lives hung. Every day we heard 
nothing but how they were planning to cut us off to 
a man and eat our flesh. The mercy of God was 
all that saved us. To God alone were we Indebted 
that the excellent Montezuma furthered our affairs. 
How great a ruler he was ! — that his subjects, even 
in his confinement, faithfully obeyed his commands ! 
In everything we saw him do he was indeed a great 
monarch, and we not only treated him with respect, 
we really loved him, and told him of the power of 
our king; and Padre de Olmedo spoke to him con- 
stantly about our holy religion. 

When all the cities were again at peace, Cortes 
reminded Montezuma that, before we entered Mex- 
ico, he had offered to pay tribute to our king, and that 
now he understood our king's power, and the num- 
ber and magnificence of his vassals, it would be well 
if he and his subjects gave their pledge and tribute. 



194 The Mastering of Mexico 

Montezuma said he would gather his caciques and 
advise with them. Within ten days he had assem- 
bled nearly all those of the country round about. 
The cacique of Matalcingo, however, most nearly 
related to Montezuma, as I have said, and probable 
successor of the monarch, did not come. He sent 
word that he was unable to pay tribute and so would 
not come to the meeting — in fact, on what he got 
from his province he was scarcely able to live him- 
self. Angry at this answer, Montezuma sent war- 
riors to take the cacique prisoner, but he, warned of 
the approach of the band, fled to the interior of his 
province and kept himself out of reach. 

To the other caciques Montezuma recalled the 
tradition handed down by their forefathers, written 
down in their books of records, that a people should 
some day come from the quarter where the sun rose 
to rule their lands and end the Mexican dominion; 
those men he believed were we; the papas had asked 
Huitzilopochtli about it and had offered sacrifices, 
but the gods no longer answered as they used to do; 
all that they could conclude was that what Huitzilo- 
pochtli had told them before he meant as his an- 
swer now, and now they must take his meaning to be 
that they should give their pledge to the king of 
Spain, whose subjects these teules were. 

'* For the present," continued Montezuma, " we 
cannot do otherwise. We must wait and see if our 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 195 

gods hereafter give a better answer. For the pres^ 
ent I wish and beg you to give some proof of al- 
legiance. I ask that no one refuse. Malinche has 
importuned me on this point. During the eighteen 
years I have been your ruler you have been loyal to 
me. I have broadened your territories and given 
you wealth. If I am now captive, it is because the 
great Huitzilopochtli has willed it." 

After this reasoning and statement of Montezuma, 
the caciques declared that they would do as he 
wished, but they broke into tears, and Montezuma 
himself wept most of all. The next day, in the pres- 
ence of Cortes and his officers, they gave their pledge 
to our king, all in the same deep grief of yesterday. 
Even we ourselves, from the love we bore Monte- 
zuma, were softened at the sight of his tears, and 
wept with him. We strove to redouble our atten- 
tions to him, and our captain with the Padre de 01- 
medo scarcely left him a moment. 

One day Cortes was, as usual, sitting with Monte- 
zuma, when through our interpreters. Donna Ma- 
rina and Aguilar, he asked of the monarch where 
the mines were, and the rivers, in which they found 
their gold, and by what method they collected what 
they had brought him in dust. Our captain said he 
wanted to send out two of his men proficient in 
mining. 

The gold, Montezuma replied, came mostly from 



196 The Mastering of Mexico 

a province, Zacatula, on the south coast, ten or tAvelve 
days' journey from Mexico. There they washed the 
earth in gourds and the gold sank to the bottom of 
the vessel. Then they also brought him gold from 
another province, Tustepec, near where we had 
landed on the north coast, where natives gathered it 
from beds of rivers and also worked good mines in 
a land near by not subject to him. If Cortes wished 
to send some of his men there, Montezuma con- 
tinued, he would give caciques to go with them. 
Thanking the monarch for his offer, Cortes dis- 
patched Gonzalo de Umbria to Zacatula, and a 
young officer, Pizarro (Peru was still unknown), to 
the mines in the north. Soldiers accompanied each 
officer, who was given forty days to go and return. 

At this time, too, the great Montezuma gave our 
captain a hennequen cloth on which draughtsmen 
had very accurately painted all the rivers and bays 
along the coast from Panuco to Tabasco, for towards 
a distance of five hundred and sixty miles, and also 
the river Coatzacoalcos. We knew well all the har- 
bors and bays described on the cloth from our voy- 
age with Grijalva, but we knew little of the Coatza- 
coalcos, which the Mexicans said was broad and 
deep. Cortes determined to send some one to take 
soundings at its mouth and learn what sort of coun- 
try was about it. Diego de Ordas, a man of intelli- 
gence and courage and one of our officers, proffered 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 197 

his service and asked for soldiers and caciques to 
keep him company. Cortes was loth to part with 
Ordas, for a man of such good counsel he wished to 
keep near. But at last, in order not to displease 
him, our captain gave consent. Montezuma then 
cautioned the officer to be on his guard, for the peo- 
ple of that country were very warlike and not sub- 
ject to him, and therefore if harm should befall him, 
he, the monarch, should not suffer reproach; on the 
frontiers, before entrance to the province, he would 
meet garrisons of Mexican warriors, and if he, Or- 
das, had need of them, he should take them for his 
company. 

The first to return to the City of Mexico were 
Gonzalo de Umbria and his comrades, who brought 
upwards of three hundred dollars in grains. The ca- 
ciques of the provinces, according to Umbria's ac- 
count, had taken many people to two rivers and in 
small vessels washed the earth and collected the 
gold. If clever miners were to work in the rivers, 
he thought, and the earth washed as they washed it 
in Santo Domingo and Cuba, these would prove rich 
mines. Two caciques of the province accompanied 
Umbria, and they, pledging themselves as vassals of 
our king, brought a present worth about two hun- 
dred dollars. Cortes was as much pleased with the 
gold as if it had been thirty thousand dollars, for it 
assured him that good mines lay in that province. 



198 The Mastering of Mexico 

and he treated the chiefs so kindly, giving them green 
glass beads and promises, that they went back to their 
homes well contented. From what we saw it was 
evident that Umbria and his companions had not 
forgotten themselves in their journey, for they came 
back with pouches stuffed with gold. 

Neither did Diego de Ordas return with empty 
hands. He likewise passed through large towns, 
where all the people paid him respect. But he met 
endless complaints of the cruelties and robberies of 
the Mexican troops stationed on the borders, and the 
caciques who were with him threatened that if the 
garrisons continued their misconduct, they should tell 
Montezuma, who would send them condign punish- 
ment. At the mouth of the Coatzacoalcos Ordas 
found a depth of three fathoms, but further up the 
river became deeper and more navigable. Here also 
Ordas received pledges from the people declaring 
themselves vassals of our king, and again he heard 
bitter complaints of Montezuma and his garrisons 
of warriors. Cortes and all of us joyfully received 
his return and report that the country was well 
adapted for cattle-breeding and farming, and the 
harbor, although full of shallows, excellently placed 
for trade with Cuba, Santo Domingo and Jamaica. 

With respect to Pizarro, he came back with only 
one soldier, but he brought over a thousand grains of 
gold. In the province of Tustepec, he said, and 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 199 

other neighboring districts, many Indians went with 
him to the rivers and gathered gold, two thirds of 
which he gave for their labor. Higher up in the 
hills many Indians, armed with bows, arrows, lances 
and shields much better than ours, had come out to 
meet him, declaring no Mexican should set foot in 
their territory, but the teules might come and wel- 
come. Here, when the people wash for gold, the 
dust comes out in curly shape. Pizarro brought also 
caciques from that country who, bearing a present 
of gold, told how their people held the Mexicans in 
abhorrence and offered themselves as vassals of the 
king. 

Cortes received Pizarro and the caciques with 
pleasant speeches and after he assured the caciques 
that they might rely on our friendship to serve them 
at all times, he dismissed them with two Mexican 
chiefs to see them in safety to their borders. Our 
captain now asked Pizarro what had become of the 
other soldiers he had taken in his company. Pizarro 
answered that he had ordered them to remain be- 
hind, for the soil seemed so fertile, the mines so rich, 
the people so peaceful, that he wished them to form 
a settlement and lay out farms for growing cacao, 
maize, and cotton, and breeding cattle, and to go 
about and examine the gold mines. Cortes said 
nothing at the time, but we heard later that in private 
he severely upbraided Pizarro for having exceeded 



200 The Mastering of Mexico 

his instructions, saying it showed a low disposition 
to wish to be employed in such things as breeding 
cattle and planting cacao, and he at once dispatched 
a soldier, Alonzo Luis, to summon immediately to 
Mexico the Spaniards Pizarro had left behind. 

The samples of gold and accounts that all the 
country was rich led our captain, after deliberating 
with Ordas and other officers and soldiers, to say to 
Montezuma that all the caciques and towns under his 
rule should pay tribute to our king, and that he, most 
wealthy of all, should give from his treasure. 
Montezuma replied that he would ask all his towns 
for gold, but many would be able at best to give but 
trifling trinkets inherited from their forefathers. He 
then dispatched caciques, ordering each town where 
the gold mines were to give as many gold bars, and 
of the same weight, as they were wont to pay to him. 
He sent two bars as a sample. 

Within twenty days the messengers came back. 
The monarch then summoned Cortes and our officers, 
and several of us whom he knew from our standing 
sentinel in his apartments, and said, " Malinche, and 
other officers and soldiers, I am greatly indebted to 
your great king for his having thought it worth his 
effort to send from such distant countries to make 
inquiries after me. But the thought that most deeply 
impresses me is that he must be the one who is to 
rule over us, according to the saying we have from 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 201 

our ancestors and confirmed by the answers of our 
gods. Therefore, take this gold for him. I have 
no more, for our notice to collect was short. For 
my share I give the whole of my father's treasure 
secreted in your quarters. I know that as soon as 
you came you saw it, and that you sealed up the open- 
ing as before. When, however, you forward this 
treasure to your king, say in your letter, ' This is 
sent you by your faithful vassal, Montezuma.' To 
this I will add a few chalchihuites of such enormous 
value that I could not give them to any save your 
great king. Each stone is worth two loads of gold. 
I also wish to send him three blow guns, with their 
balls and bags, for they are so rich in jewels they 
will certainly please him. I should like to give him 
all I possess, but I now have little left, for most of 
my gold and jewels I gave to you." 

When Cortes and the rest of us heard this we 
stood amazed at the generosity and goodness of the 
monarch, and we took off our helmets and spoke our 
thanks. Cortes promised him in words of greatest 
affection that he would write our king of the splendid 
presents. Nor did Montezuma delay. That very 
hour his house stewards handed over the wealth of 
the secret chamber. So vast was the heap of it that 
we were three days in bringing it from its corners, 
and looking it over, and taking it from the em- 
broideries on which it was set. To aid us we were 



202 The Mastering of Mexico 

obliged to call in Montezuma's goldsmiths, who had 
a town of their own near Mexico. 

There was indeed so much that when the articles 
were taken to pieces the gold alone, not counting the 
silver, was found to be worth more than six hundred 
thousand dollars, not including the gold given in 
tribute by the towns. All this treasure we ordered 
the goldsmiths to melt down, and they made bars of 
it about three fingers of the hand across. Of the 
other presents of immense value — the chalchihuite 
stones, the blow guns set with pearls and jewels, the 
plumes and feathers and other things — they were 
so rich and splendid that it would not be an easy task 
to describe them. At once Cortes ordered made an 
iron stamp bearing the royal arms of Spain, and all 
the gold I have spoken about was marked with the 
stamp, except that set with rich jewels, such as we 
were loth to take to pieces. 

First of all, one fifth of the treasure was set apart 
for the king, and Cortes said another fifth sliould be 
set aside for him, as we had promised at the sand 
dunes when we chose him our captain general. After 
that, he said what he had spent in fitting out the ex- 
pedition in Cuba should be taken from the heap; and 
also the sum due Diego Velasquez for the ships we 
had destroyed; and then again the travelling ex- 
penses of the agents wc had sent to Spain. Next , 
we should deduct the shares of the seventy men who I 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 203 

stayed behind in Vera Cruz, and the value of the 
horse of Cortes that had died, and the value of the 
mare of Sedeno which the Tlaxcalans had killed. 
Then for the two priests, the officers, and those who 
brought horses there must be double shares, and also 
for the musketeers and crossbowmen the same. So 
the nibbling went on till very little remained to each 
soldier as a share, and the share itself was such a 
trifle that many would not take it and it fell to Cor- 
tes. We could do nothing but hold our tongues. 
What would it have availed to ask justice? Some 
soldiers took their shares rated at one hundred dol- 
lars, and then made such a noise that Cortes secretly 
bribed them with presents and smooth speeches. A 
number had their purses so full that it was not long 
before trinkets and bars of gold were in open cir- 
culation; and heavy gambling began after Pedro 
Valenciano cut out and painted some playing cards 
from parchment, or drum skins. Many of the of- 
ficers employed Montezuma's goldsmiths to work out 
for their wear heavy gold chains, and Cortes had 
made among other things a great dinner service of 
plate. 

One single instance will show the feeling the un- 
fair division of the gold roused in our men. Among 
us was a seaman named Cardenas, who had left in 
Spain, while he was out seeking their livelihood, a 
wife and children in great want. Cardenas had seen 



204 The Mastering of Mexico 

the great heap of gold in slabs, plates and dust, and 
when he finally found his share a mere hundred dol- 
lars, he fairly fell ill in thinking about it. Seeing 
him one day so low-spirited, one of his friends asked 
him what caused his heavy grief and sighs. " How 
the devil can I be otherwise? " answered Cardenas, 
" when I see the gold we earned with such hardships 
get into Cortes' hands, with his fifths, and his money 
for a horse that died, and the ships of Diego Velas- 
quez, and other such tricks, while my wife and chil- 
dren are dying for want of food? I might have 
sent them a little help when our agents went to Spain, 
but we put In their hands all we at that time had 
gathered." "What gold are you speaking of?" 
asked his friend. " Why, that which our agents 
took to Spain," returned Cardenas. " If Cortes 
would give me my share of what is due me, my wife 
and children could live on it and have to spare. But 
Cortes makes us sign how we should send to the 
king, and then he sends six thousand dollars to his 
father, while I and other poor men fight night and 
day at Tabasco and Tlaxcala and Cholula, and now 
live with death all the time before our eyes. Cortes 
acts as if he were king himself, and carries off his 
fifths, while we remain poverty-stricken and all pro- 
test is vain." In this strain he ran on, saying we did 
not want too many kings, only our own. " You 
make yourself bitter with thoughts that avail you 



Of Conspiracies and Gold 205 

nothing," his comrade returned. " You know every- 
thing goes whither Cortes and his officers choose to 
carry it, even the food. They nearly eat themselves 
up, while we fare badly. But it is no use to com- 
plain. Get rid of such thoughts and pray God we 
do not lose our lives in this city." 

Here the men had done talking, but what they 
said, and the like said by others, came to the ears of 
Cortes.* Thereupon he addressed us in a honied 
speech, telling us he did not want the fifth, but only 
the share promised him when we chose him our cap- 
tain general; that the gold we had so far collected 
was a trifle to that which was to come from great 
cities and rich mines scattered through the land, 
enough to enrich every man of us. He used other 
arguments in phrases he knew so well how to form. 
But finding they had no effect, he secretly silenced 
some of the soldiers with gold, and others by great 
promises. He also ordered that the food furnished 
by Montezuma's stewards should be more justly di- 

*The historian, Antonio de Solis, says that Bernal Diaz dis- 
cusses the distribution of the Montezuma treasure very inde- 
cently, and wastes too much paper In enlarging upon the hard- 
ships the poor soldiers underwent in the distribution. 

If Diaz could have read the criticism, he might answer Solis 
as he answered the licentiates who, on reading his manuscript, 
told him it would have been well if he had not praised himself 
and his comrades so liberally — "If we did not speak well of 
ourselves, who would? Who else witnessed our exploits and 
battles — unless, indeed, the clouds in the sky and the birds fly- 
ing over our heads." 



2o6 The Mastering of Mexico 

vided, so that every man should have an equal share 
with himself. And then he took Cardenas aside 
and gave him three hundred dollars, and told him he 
should go back to his wife and children on the first 
ship that left for Spain. 

Gold is commonly the great desire of men, and the 
more they have the more they want. 



CHAPTER XIV 

How we set an altar on the chief temple, and the anger of 
the Mexican gods and people at our act; and of the fleet 
Velasquez sent out from Cuba, what Montezuma did 
about it; and our plan to go against Narvaez. 

The great Montezuma never ceased his good will 
towards us and did as we wished in every way save 
that he never stopped the sacrifice of human beings. 
Day after day the abomination went on. No protest 
could induce him to end it. The difficulty for us was 
to use some means which would not impel the people 
and the papas to arms. At last Cortes, accompanied 
by seven officers and soldiers, went to Montezuma 
and said, " Great monarch, I have already many 
times begged you not to sacrifice humans to those 
false gods who are deluding you, and yet the horrors 
continue every day. I have come now with these of- 
ficers to ask your leave to take away the idols from 
your temple and put Our Lady, Santa Maria, and a 
cross in their stead. My men are determined to pull 
the idols down, and, if you will not permit us, I sup- 
pose some one or other of your priests may be 
killed." 

When Montezuma heard these words and saw how 
207 



2o8 The Mastering of Mexico 

threatening the men looked, he answered, " Alas, 
Malinche! why do you wish utterly to destroy the 
city? Already our gods are angry with us, and I 
can not tell what revenge they will take. Have pa- 
tience till I summon the papas and know what they 
think." 

Cortes now signed with his hand for the officers 
to retire, and then he told the monarch that the way 
to save the town from open rebellion and the idols 
from destruction was to grant us room for an altar 
and an image of Our Lady and the cross on the top 
of the temple. In no other way could he promise 
him to silence the murmurs of his men. As time 
went on, moreover, the Mexicans themselves would 
see how good and beneficial the change was for their 
souls and for giving them abundant harvests and 
other blessings. 

With deep sighs and a countenance full of sorrow, 
Montezuma repeated that he would confer with his 
papas, and after much discussion between monarch 
and priests we gained leave to set our altars opposite 
the cursed idol of Huitzilopochtli, and there with 
heartfelt thanks to God, Padre de Olmedo chanted 
mass, assisted by many of our soldiers. Cortes 
begged Montezuma to order his papas not to touch 
the altar; and at the same time our captain appointed 
an old soldier to be the altar's cleaner and curator, 
to burn incense, to keep wax candles lighted night 



An Expedition Against Us 209 

and day, and from time to time to decorate It with 
fresh branches and flowers. 

From the very moment we set this altar and cross 
on the great temple, the gods Huitzllopochtli and 
Tezcatlipoca seemed to speak to the priests and tell 
them they wished to leave the country — the teules 
had treated them with such contempt they could not 
stay in the same spot with that image and cross. 
The gods further said that the gold which used to 
be kept for their honor was now broken up and 
melted into bars, and we, with five caciques In chains, 
were lording it over the land. If they were to re- 
main in Mexico, we must be killed. This was the 
last they would say on the matter. 

In order that Cortes and all of us should know 
this momentous decision, Montezuma sent word that 
he wished to speak with him, and when our captain 
hastened to the monarch, he said, " How grieved I 
am at the command our gods have given our papas 
and me and all my people. For they say we must 
make war on you, and kill you, or drive you back to 
the sea. I advise you to leave this city at once, be- 
fore you are attacked. Do not fail to do this. Re- 
member your lives are at stake." 

Cortes and his officers were not a little disturbed, 
especially by the monarch's insistence that our lives 
were In danger. But they hid their fears, and Cortes, 
thanking Montezuma for his warning, added that 



2IO The Mastering of Mexico 

he had no ships in which to sail, and even if we did 
leave the country we must take with us the monarch 
to meet our king, and therefore he begged that 
Montezuma would restrain the priests and chieftains 
till we had built three ships on the sand dunes — this 
would be the wiser course, for if they began war on 
us we should certainly kill them all. That the mon- 
arch might see he purposed to carry out what he 
said, he further asked that carpenters be sent with 
two of our soldiers to cut wood near the coast. 

When Montezuma heard that he was to go with 
us he was more dispirited than ever. Still he said 
he would send the carpenters with orders to work, 
not talk, and would command the papas and caciques 
not to raise the town to rebellion, for they might for 
the time being appease Huitzilopochtli with sacri- 
fices, but not of human lives. After this exciting in- 
terview we were all in anxiety wondering when they 
would begin their attack. 

At once Cortes sent for Martin Lopez and other 
ship carpenters, and after some discussion about the 
size of the three vessels to be built, he ordered them 
to march to Vera Cruz, where every necessary thing 
in iron, rigging, tar and tow was ready, and there 
to set to work. In all haste they obeyed, cutting the 
wood on the coast near Vera Cruz. 

Let us leave them building the ships and tell how, 
back in the city of Mexico, we grew more alarmed 



An Expedition Against Us 211 

and expected attack any moment. Our friends from 
Tlaxcala and Donna Marina said it was probable, 
and we all kept on the alert and narrowly watched 
Montezuma. I must here, and for the last time, say 
that neither by night nor day did we take off our 
armor or leggings. We even slept in them with our 
weapons in our hands. Our beds were a bundle of 
straw and a mat. Our horses stood saddled and 
bridled. In short, every soldier was ready for ac- 
tion at a moment's notice. Sentinels were posted and 
each of us in turn had at least one watch every night. 
Another thing, but I do not mention it in praise 
of myself: I grew so accustomed to living in armor 
day and night that after the conquest of New Spain 
I kept to the habit of sleeping in my clothes, and with- 
out a bed, and I slept better in soldier fashion than 
on a down bed. Even now, in my old age, when I 
visit the towns of my commendary,* I do not take a 
bed, and if I do take one it is because the gentlemen 
who go with me may not think I take no bed because 
I have no good one. And from continuous watch- 
ing at night I am only able to sleep for a short time 
together, and have to get up at intervals and take 
a couple of turns in the open air and look at the stars, 
and this I do without wearing a cap or kerchief round 
my head, and I am so used to it that, thank God, it 

* Land and Indian towns given a Spaniard in those days often 
as reward for services. 



212 The Mastering of Mexico 

does me no harm. I tell all this that it may be known 
how we, the true conquistadores, lived and how 
wonted we were to arms and keeping guard. 

From our watch in the great city of Mexico we 
have now to turn our thoughts back a little. When 
Diego Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, learned that 
we had sent agents to our king, with all the gold 
we had received — the gold sun, the silver moon, 
and many jewels and the metal from the mines — 
he also heard that the bishop of Burgos, who favored 
him, had treated our agents badly. The bishop, re- 
port went, then sent help to Velasquez, and advised 
and even commanded him to fit out an expedition 
against us and have us captured — promising that 
he, the bishop, would fully support Velasquez before 
our king. 

With such backing the governor of Cuba got to- 
gether a fleet of nineteen ships, carrying fourteen 
hundred soldiers, above twenty cannon, and stores 
of powder, balls and gun-flints. Then they also had 
eighty horsemen, ninety crossbowmen and seventy 
musketeers. Fat and heavy as he was, Velasquez 
had in the warmth of his wrath visited every town 
in Cuba to hasten the provisioning of the ships, and 
to invite settlers to join Panfilo de Narvaez and have 
the honor of taking Cortes and the rest of us pris- 
oners, or at least blowing out our brains. After 
such a send-off Narvaez sailed across the sea with 



An Expedition Against Us 213 

all his fleet. A north wind struck him one night 
and foundered one vessel of small burden, but the 
other ships came safely to the harbor of San Juan de 
Ulua. 

When the arrival of the fleet became known to 
three soldiers whom Cortes had sent out in search 
of gold mines, these men, Cervantes, Escalona and 
Alonzo Carretero, did not hesitate a moment to go 
to Narvaez' ship; and as soon as they found them- 
selves on board, and had partaken the food and wine 
given them, they praised the Almighty for delivering 
them from the power of Cortes and the city of Mex- 
ico. " How much better to be drinking wine here 
than slaving under Cortes," they cried, " with no rest 
night or day, daring scarcely speak a word, and 
death staring us in the face ! " And Cervantes, a 
low buffoon, exclaimed, " O Narvaez, Narvaez, what 
a fortunate man that you came at this time when 
the traitor Cortes has got together more than seven 
hundred thousand dollars of gold, and all his men 
are enraged because he has taken a greater part of 
the gold and they will not accept what he offers 
them." So these worthless fellows told Narvaez 
more than he wished to know. 

The great Montezuma soon learned that these 
ships, with many soldiers on board, had anchored 
in the port, and he secretly, without a word to 
Cortes, sent some of his caciques to bear presents of 



214 The Mastering of Mexico 

gold and furnish food from neighboring villages. 
Narvaez, in turn, sent word to Montezuma that 
Cortes and all the rest of us were nothing but a 
parcel of thieves and vagabonds who had fled from 
Spain without the permission of our king, and when 
his majesty had heard that we were here, and knew 
of the robberies and other ill deeds we had done, 
and that we had taken Montezuma prisoner, he or- 
dered Narvaez to set out with all these ships, sol- 
diers and horses and end our disorders, free the 
monarch, and put Cortes and all the rest of us evil- 
workers to the sword or take us alive and send us 
to Spain, where sure death awaited us. 

Montezuma heard this message with natural 
satisfaction, particularly the part telling how many 
ships, horses, cannon, musketeers and crossbowmen 
the new fleet had. He believed they would take us 
prisoners. In addition, when the monarch's mes- 
sengers saw the three treacherous rascals who had 
deserted to Narvaez, and perceived they said evil 
of Cortes, they found more reason to believe the 
scandal Narvaez had told. They brought back to 
Montezuma a picture of the fleet accurately painted 
on cloth, and he thereupon sent Narvaez more gold 
and cotton stuffs, and ordered all the towns in the 
neighborhood to supply the Spaniard with plenty of 
food. 



An Expedition Against Us 215 

Three whole days the monarch was in possession 
of this news and Cortes knew nothing about it. One 
day, however, when our captain went to pay his usual 
visit, he said to Montezuma that it seemed to him 
he looked in particularly good spirits, and he asked 
the monarch how it was. Montezuma answered 
that he felt better than he had for some time. As- 
tonished at this sudden change, Cortes called again 
the same day, and the monarch then feared he knew 
about the ships, and to turn aside suspicion he said, 
" Mallnche, I have just this moment heard that 
eighteen ships and a great number of troops and 
horses have come to port where you landed. It has 
all been painted on cloth and sent me. You have 
come twice to-day, and doubtless this time you bring 
me the news. Now you will have no need to build 
ships. Because you did not tell me of it I may have 
felt hurt, yet I am delighted at the arrival of your 
brothers, for you can go back to Spain now. This 
removes all difficulties." 

When Cortes heard this and saw the paintings on 
the cloth he exclaimed in delight, "Thank God! 
who at the right time sends aid for us ! " As for 
us — we soldiers were so rejoiced that we could not 
keep quiet, and our horsemen galloped about firing 
salute after salute. Cortes, however, saw plainly 
that Diego Velasquez had sent the fleet against him 



2i6 The Mastering of Mexico 

and against all of us; and he said what he felt about 
it to us, and by rich presents and promises he won 
our pledge to stand by him. 

Our captain, I have said, was a man who exercised 
such care and forethought that the smallest advan- 
tage did not escape him, and whatever difficulty he 
might be in he managed to put right. The facts must 
not be forgotten, however, that he had the good 
fortune to have trustworthy officers and soldiers who 
not only brought a powerful arm to battle, but also 
aided him with prudent advice. At that time, in 
the way of council, we all agreed that he should at 
once send letters by Indian couriers to Narvaez, In 
the most friendly way offering our services to do 
what he should command, and begging him not to 
excite rebellion in the land or permit the Indians to 
see any enmity among us. We wrote in this friendly 
tone because our numbers were so very small in com- 
parison with his, and in order to get his good will 
and learn how he was inclined. 

This letter of Cortes' sent by the courier duly 
reached Narvaez, and he for his part went about 
showing it to his officers and making merry at it, and 
even at us. One of his officers, named Salvatlerra, 
reproved him, it was said, for even reading a letter 
from such a traitor as Cortes, saying he ought to 
march against us and not leave one of us alive; for 
his own, Salvatierra's, self, he swore, he would cut 



An Expedition Against Us 217 

off Cortes' ears and roast and eat them. Other such 
brutality was rife. 

From ourselves at Mexico, likewise, Cortes de- 
spatched our Padre de Olmedo carrying a stock of 
persuasive articles of gold and precious stones, and 
to tell how Cortes wished for peace and friendship. 
But upon Olmedo's arriving and calling upon him 
Narvaez refused to listen, and called us all traitors. 
When Olmedo replied that on the contrary we were 
most faithful servants of the king, Narvaez grossly 
insulted him. It was then the padre secretly dis- 
tributed the gold to those Cortes had named, and 
won over the chief officers to our side. 

Cortes, receiving daily letters from the camp of 
Narvaez, and from Sandoval at Vera Cruz, learned 
that Narvaez had sent the royal auditor a prisoner 
to Spain, and thrown in chains others who spoke of 
us as deserving men, and that fearing like treatment, 
five officers had gone over to Sandoval. Finally we 
heard that Narvaez had stated his intention shortly 
to go in person to Mexico and take us prisoners. 
When such intelligence as this reached Cortes, he 
promptly called together all those who were wont 
to advise with him and whom he knew faithful to 
his interests. In this council we all agreed that with- 
out waiting for any more letters, we should im- 
mediately march against Narvaez. Pedro de Al- 
varado was to remain in Mexico to guard Monte- 



21 8 The Mastering of Mexico 

zuma, and all the soldiers not anxious to join our 
expedition, and also possible partisans of Velasquez, 
were to stay with him. 

Fortunately Cortes had ordered a supply of maize 
from Tlaxcala before the arrival of Narvaez, for 
the harvest had failed about Mexico owing to want 
of rain. We needed great quantity of provisions 
for many Tlaxcalan friends were with us. This 
maize and other necessities, such as fowls, now came 
in and we gave it in charge of Pedro de Alvarado. 
Further we fortified our quarters by mounting bronze 
cannon, and left with Alvarado all the powder we 
had, ten crossbowmen, fourteen musketeers, seven 
horsemen and in all eighty-three soldiers. 

Montezuma plainly saw that our plan was to go 
against Narvaez, and though Cortes went to see him 
every day, he did not let him know that he was aware 
the monarch was sending gold and cloth to the newly 
arrived Spaniards and was ordering food delivered 
to them. So it happened that one day while 
they were discoursing as usual, Montezuma said, 
" Malinche, I have for some time been noticing that 
your officers and soldiers are disturbed, and you your- 
self do not come to see me as often as you used 
to. Your page tells me that you are about to march 
against your brothers who have come in the ships, 
and that you are going to leave Tonatio (so the 
Mexicans termed Alvarado) to guard me. Do tell 



An Expedition Against Us 219 

me if there is any way I can bear you aid In this 
matter. I will do it with the greatest good will. I 
fear for your success, for you have few teules and 
those who have come have five times as many. And 
they say they are Christians, like yourselves, and sub- 
jects of your king, and possess images and set up 
crosses and read mass just as you do, and every- 
where they are telling that you have fled from your 
king and they are come to capture and put you to 
death. I scarce know what to think of It. One 
thing, however, I must tell you — use great care in 
what you are about to do." 

In his answer Cortes told the monarch, In the most 
cheerful way in the world and speaking through 
Donna Marina who was always with him, as well 
as Aguilar, in these conversations, that if he had not 
come to tell Montezuma about this, it was because 
of the love he bore him and he would spare him 
anxiety about our departure. It was all true that the 
teules lately arrived were subjects of our king and 
Christians, but it was false to say we had fled from 
our king. On the contrary our great monarch had 
sent us to visit him, Montezuma, and send report of 
what had been said and done. As to what he had 
said about those just arrived bringing many soldiers 
and horses and cannon, however great their number 
our Lord Jesus Christ, and his blessed mother. Our 
Lady, would lend us strength and power superior to 



220 The Mastering of Mexico 

those bad men who had come with evil purpose. 
Our emperor, continued Cortes, ruled many countries 
and peoples differing in courage and spirit. We 
came from the heart of Spain, Old Castile, and the 
commander now at the coast from Biscay where the 
people speak an impure speech. Montezuma need 
have no anxiety about us. We should speedily come 
back victorious, and for the present we begged him 
to stay in friendship with Tonatio, and not counten- 
ance his caciques and papas in raising any rebellion, 
for in case they did the rebels should on our return 
pay with their lives. Cortes also asked the monarch 
to furnish anything those who stayed behind might 
need in the way of food. 

After this our captain embraced Montezuma 
twice, and Montezuma also embraced Cortes, and 
Donna Marina significantly said to the monarch that 
he ought to show some sign of grief at our departure. 
Upon this Montezuma said he would do all Cortes 
had asked him and also furnish five thousand war- 
riors to go with us. But Cortes, knowing well that 
they would not be forthcoming, assured him with 
thanks that he needed no more than, first of all, the 
help of God and then of his companions. Still, he 
begged Montezuma to see that the image of Our 
Lady and the cross were always decorated with fresh 
boughs, the wax candles burning day and night, and 
that he should not permit any of his priests to sacri- 



An Expedition Against Us 221 

fice human lives. To do this would be proof of his 
sincere friendship. 

After this Cortes besought Alvarado and all the 
others remaining behind to take the utmost care 
Montezuma did not escape. We then embraced one 
another and, taking as little baggage as possible, set 
out on our journey. 



CHAPTER XV 

fVhat Cortes said to a so-called notary; how he addressed 
us at Cernpoala and we rallied to his call: our victory 
over Narvaez and his forces, and the surrender of mates 
and masters of the fleet; how the smallpox reached New 
Spain. 

From Cholula our captain sent to the Tlaxcalans 
begging them to despatch at once five thousand war- 
riors. To this our friends answered that if we were 
going to war against Indians like themselves they 
would gladly do so, but against teules like ourselves, 
and cannon and crossbows, they had no wish to fight. 
They accompanied their refusal, however, with as 
many fowls as twenty men could carry. 

We kept on our way, ready at a moment's notice 
for battle. Our scouts with two of our soldiers, 
trustworthy and swift of foot, were always a day's 
journey ahead of us, lurking in paths where horses 
could not go, to hear from Indians about the newly 
arrived troops, and on the lookout to seize any 
strollers from Narvaez' camp. It was not long be- 
fore they came upon five Spaniards, and sent us word 
they were approaching. As the new arrivals came 
near they made profound bows and our captain dis- 

222 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 223 

mounted when their chief, Alonzo de Mata, said he 
was a notary and wished to serve a decree he had 
brought. Cortes interrupted him and asked if he 
were a king's notary. Mata said yes. Cortes then 
ordered him to show his appointing paper, and if it 
were regular he was at hberty to read his message, 
and he, our captain, would then know what was due 
him in the service of God and his majesty. But if 
he, Mata, had not brought the original appointment 
signed by the king, it was useless for him to read the 
paper. 

Mata was not a little staggered at this demand, 
for he really was no notary. He was fairly dumb- 
founded, and the four men with him equally. Cortes 
overlooked their embarrassment and ordered food 
set before them, for we were then halting a few 
moments. Further he told them we were marching 
to Tanpaniguita, not far from the camp of Narvaez, 
and there he could be found if they had any com- 
munication to make. In all he said Cortes spoke 
not a word of reproach against Narvaez, and after 
he had had a private talk with the men and had 
thrust a few pieces of gold into their hands, they 
went back to their camp sounding the praises of 
Cortes and of all of us. While they were with us 
many of our soldiers out of pure love of display 
hung gold collars and chains round their necks and 
arms. All this made great impression on the five 



224 'The Mastering of Mexico 

men, and they told such wonderful stories of our 
riches in their camp that many of the officers wanted 
to make peace with Cortes. 

As soon as our troops arrived at Tanpaniguita we 
despatched that remarkably shrewd man, Padre de 
Olmedo, with a letter to Narvaez. Towards the 
commander the friar comported himself in a partic- 
ularly humble manner, but he made secret overtures 
to a number of gentlemen and gave some of them 
bars of gold. We also sent other skilful mediators. 
But, to pass briefly their work, let me say that in the 
end all negotiations proved useless, and finally we 
continued our march to Cempoala and halted in a 
beautiful meadow skirting a brook, about four miles 
from the town. We now posted sentinels of entirely 
trustworthy men, and Cortes assembled us round 
him, as he sat on horseback, and begging a few 
minutes' silence, spoke to us in this wise: 

" You well know that Diego Velasquez, governor 
of Cuba, named me captain general — but not be- 
cause there are not many gentlemen among you 
worthy of the post — and that you left Cuba think- 
ing you were coming to settle in this country. I was 
preparing to act up to the publication, and was ready 
to return to Cuba and render account to Diego 
Velasquez, when your honors ordered — yes, com- 
pelled me to form a settlement here in the name of 
our emperor, a settlement that, thanks to God, has 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 225 

so far succeeded. You then made me your captain 
general and chief justice of New Spain, to continue 
vested in such powers till our king should order other- 
wise. Once there was talk among some of you of 
return to Cuba; but this I need not mention, it is 
past history, and our determination to stay here has 
proved a service to God and our king. 

" Above all I must remind you of what we prom- 
ised when we forwarded gold, silver, jewels and 
other valuable things we had acquired, and sent his 
majesty report and story of our doings, how we 
begged the king, since this land was of vast extent 
and rich in mines and cities, not to give it away to 
be governed by an agent or any partisan of the bishop 
of Burgos, but that it was good and proper to bestow 
It on some great prince. Now, you well remember, 
gentlemen, how often we have been at the point of 
death in battles we have fought. You all know how 
we are wonted to hunger and hardships, sleeping on 
bare ground In rain and snow and never laying aside 
our arms. Fifty comrades who have died In our 
wars I can not refer to; indeed I make no mention 
how all of us are maimed with wounds, some not 
even yet healed. I remind you of the troubles when 
we were still at sea, of the battle of Tabasco, how 
nigh we were to total destruction in battle at Tlaxcala, 
how we had hardly taken breath when we found at 
Cholula that they had made ready the pots In which 



226 The Mastering of Mexico 

to cook our flesh for a feast. No one of us can ever 
forget our march through the mountain passes where 
Montezuma had posted troops to exterminate us, 
and had blocked the road with felled trees. Still, 
we marched into Mexico and quartered ourselves in 
the very heart of the great city. And how often 
since then has death stood before our eyes ! 

" You who came here twice before I did — look 
at the hardships you underwent in discovering these 
lands, the miseries you suffered. I can not speak 
in detail of this for night is now fast approaching. 
But see now, gentlemen, how Panfilo de Narvaez 
comes tearing along with fury and desire to get us 
in his power, calling us thieves and vagabonds and 
sending messages to the great Montezuma, not in 
the manner of a prudent captain but in that of a 
rebellious mischief-maker. Consider how already 
he has declared war of extermination against us, just 
as if we were a troop of Moors. 

" Up to this moment," continued Cortes, " we 
have fought to defend our lives, but now we have to 
fight for our lives and our honor, for our enemies 
have nothing less in mind than to capture us and rob 
us of all we have gained. If Narvaez and his men 
conquer us, which God forbid, all the services we 
have rendered the Almighty and our king will be 
turned to crimes. They will bring against us suits 
saying we killed, robbed and destroyed, where in 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 227 

truth they are the ones who rob and render ill service 
to our king. All this you must see with your own 
eyes, honest gentlemen as you are, and that we are 
bound to fight for the honor of our king and our 
own property. We lately left Mexico with con- 
fidence in God and in another, and now we bid de- 
fiance to injustice." 

One and all we cried out to him that he might 
feel sure, we would, God aiding us, conquer or die. 
This rally of ours greatly rejoiced Cortes and he 
said that because he had confidence in us he had made 
the march from Mexico, and not regret but wealth 
and honor should be the reward of our courage. He 
once more begged us to remember that in war and 
battle, prudence and knowledge accomplish more 
than utmost daring, and he knew so well our great 
courage, how every man of us strove to be first to 
dash into the enemy's ranks, that he begged us to be 
ordered in companies. The enemy's guns were the 
first object for us to capture. For this he chose 
sixty of our youngest men, of which number I was 
one, and put Pizarro, a daring young man, in com- 
mand — in those days neither Pizarro nor Peru were 
known to fame. The order was that as soon as we 
had captured the cannon we were to storm the 
quarters of Narvaez on the top of a lofty temple. 
To seize Narvaez himself was the duty of Sandoval 
and sixty men with him, Cortes promising to give 



228 The Mastering of Mexico 

three thousand dollars to the soldier who first laid 
hands on Narvaez, two thousand to the second, and 
one thousand to the third. Twenty men Cortes kept 
with him to hasten to whatever point aid might most 
be needed. 

As soon as these lists were given out, Cortes again 
addressing us said, " I am fully aware that Narvaez 
has four times as many soldiers as we. But most of 
them are not used to arms, numbers of them are 
hostile to their captain, many are ill, and we shall 
fall on them unawares. God will give us victory. 
They will not oppose us for they know they will fare 
better with us than with Narvaez. So, gentlemen, 
our lives and our honor depend, after God, on your 
valor and strength of arm. In our hands now lies 
the estimate all future generations will put upon us. 
To die in battle is better than to live dishonored." 

With this Cortes ended, for it was beginning to 
rain and getting late. Often since then, when think- 
ing of his speech, I have wondered why our captain 
said nothing of the secret understanding he had with 
some of Narvaez' officers, but merely repeatedly 
urged the need of our employing utmost courage. 
I now see that by doing this he showed the prudence 
of a great general, for by making us feel that our 
only hope was in God and our own bravery, he 
forced us to the very limit of our valor. 

We were in camp during the first part of the night, 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 229 

and spent our time In preparations and thinking of 
the task we had before us. It was useless to think 
of supper, for we had not a morsel to eat. We sent 
our scouts and posted pickets, of which I was one. 
I had not been standing long before a scout came up 
and asked me If I had heard a noise. I said no. 
Then came an officer and said GalleguIUo, who had 
come over from the camp of Narvaez, was nowhere 
to be found, that he must have been a spy, and that 
Cortes ordered us at once to march to Cempoala. 
An Instant after I heard the fife and drum, and we 
began our march, and at this juncture GalleguIUo 
came to light ; — the poor fellow, not used to rain 
and cold, had crept under some cloaks and fallen fast 
asleep. 

Cortes now ordered drum and pipe silenced and 
we marched steadily forward to the river. I shall 
never forget our crossing the stream, how it was 
swollen by the rain, how slippery the stones were, 
and how we were encumbered by our arms. Near 
the river we came upon two spies, and one of them, 
Carrasco, when captured, cried in a loud voice, 
" Take care, Captain Cortes, Narvaez with all his 
troops is waiting for you." The other spy, Hurtado, 
escaping us ran giving the alarm, " To arms ! to 
arms!" so that Narvaez calling his men and our 
charging with our lances happened at the same time. 

We under PIzarro had the good fortune to capture 



230 The Mastering of Mexico 

tile cannon before the gunners had time to fire more 
than four pieces, every ball of which passed over our 
heads save one that killed three of our comrades. 
Now we had gained the guns Narvaez was shooting 
down at us with arrows and musket-balls from the 
top of the temple. At this moment Sandoval came 
up and, in spite of Narvaez making strong resistence, 
he and his men made a rush to scale the steps. See- 
ing this and confident they had given up trying to 
recover the guns, we ran to Sandoval's aid. We got 
to him just as Narvaez had beaten him back five or 
six steps, and our arrival turned the scale against 
the enemy. With our long lances we did hard work, 
and when I was least expecting it we heard shouts 
from Narvaez, "Santa Maria, protect me! They 
have thrust out one of my eyes and are kiUing me ! " 
At once we shouted " Victory! Victory! Narvaez 
is fallen ! " Still, for all this, we were not able to 
force our way to the temple until one of us who was 
very tall, Martin Lopez (he of the sloop building), 
set fire to the straw on the top of the temple, and all 
the men of Narvaez came rolling down the steps. 
Then Pedro Farfan, a good soldier, was the first to 
lay hold of Narvaez, and in an instant we were shout- 
ing, " Long live the king! Long live the king! and 
in his royal name Cortes! Victory! Victory! 
Narvaez is dead! " 

In the hurry of the moment we merely fastened 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 231 

fetters about Narvaez' legs, but now Sandoval came 
up and ordered him better secured. Our captain 
came also at the same time, and in full armor. The 
weather was hot and he had so heated himself, going 
from place to place and shouting to our soldiers and 
giving orders, that he was dripping with perspira- 
tion and panting for breath. Twice he said, 
" Where is Narvaez? What about Narvaez? " be- 
fore Sandoval could understand what he was saying. 
" He is here, he is here, and well guarded," cried 
Sandoval when at last he understood. " That is all 
right, my son Sandoval," answered Cortes, still much 
out of breath, " do not leave him, nor suffer your 
men to go away. Keep strong guard over all the 
officers who are prisoners with him. I will go and 
see how matters stand at other points." With these 
words Cortes rode off to issue summons that all fol- 
lowers of Narvaez, under pain of death, should at 
once surrender themselves under the banner of the 
king, and in his royal name, to Hernando Cortes, 
captain general and chief justice. 

All this took place in the night. When we forced 
our way into the town it was as dark as pitch, for 
the moon did not rise till later, and it rained heavily 
at intervals. But even the darkness favored us, for 
numbers of fire-flies kept flying about, and the sol- 
diers of Narvaez mistook their recurrent giving off 
light for the matches of our fire arms, and so they 



232 The Mastering of Mexico 

gained an idea that we had a vast number of match- 
locks. 

Narvaez was badly wounded besides the loss of an 
eye, and he asked leave for his surgeon to attend his 
and other officers' wounds. When permission was 
unhesitatingly given, and the surgeon was at work, 
Cortes came near, unknown as he fancied, to look 
at his foe. Someone whispered to Narvaez that 
Cortes was standing by, whereupon Narvaez cried, 
" Captain Cortes, you may well be proud of this 
victory and my being a prisoner." " I am," said 
Cortes in answer, " in every way thankful to God 
for it, and likewise to these brave companions who 
shared it, but to defeat and capture those who dared 
to arrest an officer of our king is the least brilliant 
victory we have won in New Spain." 

Broad daylight had come before a detachment of 
forty horsemen, whom Narvaez had sent to oppose 
our crossing the river, persuaded by Olid and Ordas, 
quietly returned. When they reached our camp 
drummers and fifers of Narvaez sounded their in- 
struments and shouted, " Long live these Romans 
who, few in number, conquered Narvaez and his 
troops"; and a merry-making fellow who had come 
with Narvaez, a negro called Guidela, cried at the 
top of his voice, "Hark ye! The Romans them- 
selves never could boast of such a victory as this! " 

The forty horsemen at once came in a body to 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 233 

pledge themselves to Cortes who, with us standing 
round him, was seated in a armchair, an orange- 
colored robe covering his armor. The serenity and 
joy of his face and the gracious words he spoke as 
he welcomed them, were very notable. And how 
cheerful he was ! He indeed had good cause, seeing 
himself that moment so raised to power. After the 
horsemen had given their fealty each one passed to 
his quarters. 

I must not omit to say that Cervantes and 
Escalona, who had deserted to Narvaez, fared badly, 
for Escalona suffered severe wounds and Cervantes 
by order of Cortes was well whipped. Of the brag- 
gadocio, Salvatierra, his soldiers said that never in 
all their hves had they seen a more cowardly man, 
or one so alarmed at the chance of death, as when 
he heard the first clash of arms. And when we cried, 
"Victory! Victory! Narvaez is fallen!" he 
promptly said he was sick at the stomach and threw 
down his arms. 

After the whole of Narvaez' troops had been dis- 
armed, Cortes directed Francisco de Lugo to go to 
the port where the fleet of the defeated commander 
lay and order all the masters and mates of the ships 
to put sails, rudders and compasses ashore, so that 
they could not carry news to Diego Velasquez in 
Cuba, and to come to Cempoala. The mates and 
masters promptly came and pledged themselves to 



234 The Mastering of Mexico 

Captain Cortes, and after they had taken solemn 
oath that they would not leave his command, he ap- 
pointed a master of one of the ships, but a man 
Cortes trusted, Pedro Cavallero, admiral of the 
flotilla. Him all masters and mates were to obey. 
To Cavallero our captain gave orders that no ship 
should leave the port, and should Diego Velasquez 
send other ships, the admiral must seize them, send 
their sails, rudders and compasses on shore, and 
await further orders. Let us now leave the fleet. 

At our headquarters these plans between ourselves 
and the followers of Narvaez were formed: — Leon 
was to proceed to the province of Panuco and form 
a settlement there, Cortes allotting him for the ex- 
pedition one hundred followers of Narvaez with 
twenty of our men experienced in war; with two ships 
to explore the coast and the river Panuco. Another 
one hundred and twenty soldiers of like proportion 
between us and the raw recruits were to go under 
command of Ordas to settle in the region of Coat- 
zacoalcos. Ordas also was to have two ships to 
despatch from the river to the island of Jamaica for 
mares, calves, pigs, sheep, goats, fowls of Spanish 
breed that these creatures might multiply in the 
country, for the province of Coatzacoalcos was par- 
ticularly adapted for such husbandry. 

In order that these two ofl'icers and their soldiers 
might set out fully equipped, Cortes ordered all 



Our Victory Over Narvaez 235 

prisoners except Narvaez and Salvatierra freed and 
their arms returned to them. Now, after our victory- 
some of our soldiers had taken possession of many 
horses, swords and other things, and no one of us 
felt inclined to give back what he had got. Our 
captain's order caused a good deal of angry discus- 
sion and discontent, we soldiers maintaining that we 
held very rightfully what we had taken, for Narvaez 
had declared war against us, to capture us and rob 
us of our property, and had branded us, faithful 
servants of his majesty, as traitors. Therefore the 
loot we had got belonged to us. Still, Cortes was 
determined that we should give up what we had 
captured, and as we had elected him captain general, 
we could do no less than obey him. I surrendered 
a horse I had taken saddled and bridled, and two 
swords and three daggers. 

Alonzo de Avila, an officer who dared speak out 
boldly to Cortes, and also Padre de Olmedo, pri- 
vately reproached our captain for this action of his 
and told him that he seemed to be imitating Alex- 
ander of Macedon, who, when he had made some 
great gain, rewarded and honored those conquered 
rather than the soldiers and officers who had won 
him the victory. And there were other reasons for 
their making this remark, for every day we stayed 
there after the vanquishing of Narvaez, the Indians 
brought gold and food to him, and all the presents 



236 The Mastering of Mexico 

he gave to the conquered officers and left us un- 
noticed. This, they maintained, was base ingrati- 
tude after we had raised him to the post he held. 

Cortes was never wanting for an answer, however, 
and he said that all he possessed was ours, but for 
the time being he could not do other than gain the 
good will of the followers of Narvaez with fair 
words and gifts, for they were many in comparison 
with ourselves and if they were once to rise up in 
anger, they might put us all to the sword. 

A very great misfortune now came to New Spain. 
Narvaez had with him a negro servant who was ill 
of small pox. From this man the terrible disease 
spread through the whole country. Never before, 
the Indians said, had they had such a sickness, and 
in their ignorance of what to do they bathed very 
often in cold water, as was their custom. Great 
numbers of them died. The lot of Narvaez was 
black; but blacker still the death of so many who had 
not become Christians. 



CHAPTER XVI 

How rebellion against Alvarado broke out, and we marched 
back and re-entered the great city; how Cortes felt and 
what he said, and how the Mexicans warred fiercely 
against us several days; and how the mighty Montezuma 
died. 

How quickly the wheel of fortune turns and 
trouble and sorrow follow joy ! Such a moment now 
came to us. First two Tlaxcalans bearing a letter 
from Alvarado, and then two other messengers, told 
that Mexico had risen in arms, that the people were 
besieging the Spaniards we had left behind to guard 
Montezuma, that they had set fire to the new fortifi- 
cations and killed seven of our men and wounded 
many others. God knows how greatly this news 
shocked us. We determined, leaving Narvaez and 
Salvatierra in custody at Vera Cruz, to hasten to 
Mexico by forced marches. 

Just as we were starting four chieftains came up, 
sent by Montezuma to bear his complaint. They, 
with tears in their eyes, told that Alvarado and his 
soldiers had sallied from their quarters and had 
fallen on their caciques who were dancing and feast- 
ing in honor of their gods Huitzilopochtli and 

237 



238 The Mastering of Mexico 

Tezcatlipoca (Alvarado himself having given them 
leave to celebrate the festival) and had killed and 
wounded many, while the Mexicans, forced to a de- 
fence, had slain some of our Spaniards. Cortes 
heard this with a dark frown settling on his brow. 
He answered that he would go to Mexico and put 
things to rights. At the same time he wrote Alva- 
rado that while we were coming by forced marches, 
he should see that Montezuma did not escape. 

News that Mexico was In rebellion led us to 
abandon our plans for forming settlements In the 
provinces of Panuco and Coatzacoalcos, and Cortes 
begging the followers of Narvaez to forget the old 
enmity and join us In the campaign and service to 
God and our king, promised that those who had come 
to the country for a livelihood he would lead to 
wealth and honors. He said so many fine things 
that one and all agreed to go. 

With all expedition we reached Tlaxcala, where 
we learned that the Mexicans had not ceased their 
attacks upon our garrison till they heard of our 
victory over Narvaez; and that they still failed to 
supply our men with food and water. Cortes now 
reviewed our troops and found over thirteen hun- 
dred men, eighty crossbowmen, a like number of 
musketeers, and ninety-six horses. In addition the 
caciques of Tlaxcala furnished us two thousand war- 
riors. The same brisk steps with which we had 



War: and How Montezuma Died 239 

marched to Tlaxcala we continued to the great city 
Texcoco. Here we began to discover the ill feeling 
the people had against us, for they showed us not 
the smallest honor and not a single cacique ap- 
peared. 

On midsummer day, St John's day, In the month 
of June, 1520, we for the second time entered the 
city of Mexico. None of our Mexican friends met 
us on the streets, and all the houses were empty. 
Not until we reached our quarters did Montezuma 
come to welcome Cortes and congratulate him on 
his victory over Narvaez. Our captain, however, 
flushed with newly acquired power, refused to listen 
to the monarch, who returned sad and depressed to 
his apartments. 

We soldiers again took our lodgings in the old 
quarters, and Narvaez' men found similar comforts. 
We then saw and talked with Alvarado and the sol- 
diers who had stayed with him, and heard many con- 
flicting reports of the revolt. Some of the soldiers 
said that Montezuma had quieted the people and put 
down the insurrection, and If he had had secret 
understanding with his people, our men would have 
been killed. Alvarado, for his part, told Cortes that 
the Mexicans had risen In arms because their god, 
Huitzilopochtli, commanded It In revenge for our 
having set up a cross and the image of Our Lady 
in his temple. Further, they had risen because of 



240 The Mastering of Mexico 

the message Narvaez sent Montezuma, that he was 
coming to release the monarch from prison and lead 
us away In chains; and because Montezuma found 
that although we now had ships, we were not leaving 
the country and he believed what we said about em- 
barking empty words; and since more teules were 
arriving we never Intended to leave. Therefore the 
Mexicans had determined, before we should come 
back to Mexico with the soldiers we had conquered, 
to put all who were there to the sword and liberate 
their monarch. Cortes became very angry when 
Alvarado gave these and other reports about the 
uprising, and he told Alvarado his work had been 
ill done and hurtful to the Spanish cause and he 
wished to hear no more of it. 

When Cortes on our return march saw how the 
people of Texcoco had not stirred a foot to give 
him a reception and had only afforded him food, and 
bad food at that, and with ill will, and when he met 
the same, or stronger, expression of 111 feeling in 
entering Mexico, and, although he returned with ad- 
ditional forces, the people no longer brought him 
supplies, the pride he had showed to the officers on 
the march to Mexico, glorifying himself and telling 
of the power he enjoyed and how the Indians would 
come from all parts and receive him with splendor 
and give him gold — this expectation of his meeting 
the very opposite of what It had pleased him to be- 



War: and How Montezuma Died 241 

lieve would happen, his pride turned to moroseness 
and anger. So it came about that when Montezuma 
sent two caciques to say he wished to see and talk 
with our captain, Cortes said, " Go to, for a hound, 
who will not keep an open market nor permit food 
to be given us ! " When Leon and other chief offi- 
cers heard this, they cried, " Moderate your anger, 
captain, recall the kindness and honor this monarch 
has shown us. But for him, the Mexicans would 
long ago have feasted on our bodies." At this 
seeming reproof, Cortes became still more angry and 
burst out with, " Why should I stand on further 
ceremony with this hound who secretly united with 
Narvaez and now refuses us food?" "To our 
minds," answered the officers, " he acts prudently 
and does nothing but what the situation prompts." 
Cortes, however, relied on the strength of his 
troops, and he spoke angrily again to the chieftains, 
telling them to say to their master that he must at 
once order the market reopened. The caciques had 
understood the speech reviling their master, and also 
our officers' reproof. They went back and told the 
monarch what they had heard. Scarcely a quarter 
of an hour later one of our men came in badly 
wounded. He had been to Tacuba, a town close by 
Mexico, to fetch some Indian women belonging to 
Cortes' household, and he told how he found the 
city and the roads filled with warriors, and, if he had 



242 The Mastering of Mexico 

not let his charges go, they would hav^e seized him. 
thrown him into a canoe and carried him off for 
sacrifice. Our captain and those of us soldiers used 
to Indian fighting were very depressed when we 
heard this, for we well knew with what vast crowds 
they always enter battle, and that we should have to 
run greatest risk of losing life in hunger, or in fight- 
ing in a strongly fortified city. 

Cortes promptly ordered Ordas with four hun- 
dred soldiers, mostly crossbowmen and musketeers 
with a few horsemen, to see what truth there was in 
the soldier's tale, and if they could settle the trouble 
without fighting, to do so. Ordas had hardly 
reached the middle of the street when squadrons of 
Mexicans on the level, and many more on housetops, 
attacked his little troop so furiously that they killed 
eight of his men at first onset and wounded many. 

If the body of warriors falling on Ordas was vast, 
the many at the same time attacking our quarters and 
assailing us with lances, arrows and slings was 
greater, and they at once wounded more than forty 
of our men. True, our cannon, muskets, crossbows 
and lances made havoc in their ranks, yet they fought 
with the more fury and closed their lines the more 
firmly, nor could we push them back one inch. It 
was only after a good deal of fighting that Ordas and 
his men were able step by step to force a passage 
to our quarters, his company less by fourteen sol- 



War: and How Montezuma Died 243 

diers than when he left, and all the rest badly 
wounded. 

The damage the Mexicans now did, however, was 
nothing to what we afterwards suffered. Their 
audacity went so far that they entered our quarters 
and set them on fire, one body attacking us in front 
and another in the rear, and we should have been 
suffocated with smoke if we had not put out the fire 
by throwing earth over it. They hurled at random 
lances, stones and arrows so that the ground in all 
our courts was literally covered. Combat under 
these conditions lasted all day and until late at night, 
when at last we could dress our wounds, mend 
breaches in the wall and get ready for the next day. 

At the beginning of dawn our captain decided to 
sally out with all of us and the troops of Narvaez, 
and beat the enemy, or at least make them feel our 
strength. The Mexicans had determined on the 
same action. They came in overwhelming numbers, 
fresh men every minute to the attack. Neither can- 
non nor musketry were to the purpose, nor killing 
from forty to fifty of their troop at a time. They 
fought on in close ranks, their courage seeming to 
increase with every loss. At times they would re- 
treat, but that was merely a ruse to draw us from our 
quarters to where they could surround us, desperately 
assault us with stones and lances cast from house- 
tops, and assail our ears with drums, trumpets and 



244 The Mastering of Mexico 

yells that we were scoundrels and cowards. I do not 
know how I so coolly tell what passed. Three or 
four of us who had served in Italy swore over and 
over again that neither against the artillery of the 
French, nor against the Turk himself, had they ever 
seen such furious fighting. 

On that day they killed ten or twelve more of our 
men and none of us escaped without a wound. Dur- 
ing the night we resolved that In two days' time as 
many of us as should be able should sally out with 
moving towers. These engines, of wood strongly 
put together, we so built that five and twenty men 
could move along under each of them. They had 
loopholes through which hea\^ guns could be fired, 
and with them, too, were musketeers and crossbow- 
men, and horsemen who were to charge at full gal- 
lop. 

Our enemies, hcfwever, not only attacked our 
quarters in ten and twelve, but In twenty different 
points at once, so that what with building our towers, 
repairing breaches in the wall and beating off as- 
sailants who fixed ladders to our walls, we had 
enough to do. No one of us should survive that 
day, they shouted, but all of us should be sacrificed 
— our hearts torn from our bodies, our blood drawn 
from our veins and offered to their gods, our arms 
and legs eaten at their feasts, and the rest of our 
bodies thrown to the caged tigers, lions and snakes 



War: and How Montezuma Died 245 

which they had not lately fed that they might the 
more greedily devour us. As for our comrade 
Tlaxcalans, they said they would put them in cages 
to fatten and use them day by day in sacrifice. But 
" Deliver up Montezuma! " they yelled, while their 
whistles and missiles assailed us the whole night. 

As soon as day had fairly broken, commending 
ourselves to God we sallied forth with our towers. 
If our enemy had fought desperately on the two pre- 
vious days, they stood even more firm this time. 
Nevertheless we determined, although at the cost of 
all our lives, we must push to the great temple of 
Huitzilopochtli. I will not detail the terrible strug- 
gle we had, how they hurled darts, stones and arrows, 
how, if hotly pursued, they jumped into the canals, 
how they wounded our horses, which lost their foot- 
hold on the smooth pavement of the courtyard. 
Their numbers was so vast we could not beat them 
back, though our cannon mowed down ten or fifteen 
at a time. At last we had worked our way to the 
foot of the temple, when, all of a sudden above four 
thousand Mexicans rushed up the steps for its de- 
fense. Other troops armed with long lances, stones 
and darts were already on the top. 

We now began to make our way up the stairs. 
Oh ! what a perilous fight it was ! — we streaming 
with blood and covered with wounds, our men falling 
dead at our feet ! Cortes showed astonishing valor. 



246 The Mastering of Mexico 

although that was never wanting in him. At last it 
pleased providence to help us to the place where we 
had set the image of Our Lady. It was not there. 
Montezuma through devotion, or fear, as we came 
to know, had put it in safety. But some of us set 
fire to the Mexican idols and their chapel, while 
others were fighting, for here stood together the 
papas and many of the caciques. 

We had undergone greatest peril. Our towers 
were broken in pieces. All of us were covered with 
wounds, and forty-six of our men slain. We started 
to return. Our retreat was no less difficult. Oh! 
how they fell upon us and rushed us down the steps 
of the temple! And we came back to quarters just 
in time, for the enemy had made breaches in our 
walls and forced their way to our rooms. Such 
work we were able to stop, but never their hurling 
of lances, stones and arrows with most frightful 
yells. 

When we had mended our walls, aided our 
wounded and buried our dead, every plan offered in 
our council of war had no sufficient remedy. Our 
troubles increased through the ill disposition of the 
soldiers of Narvaez who, seeming crazy and deaf to 
every thing said to them, cursed Cortes and even 
Diego Velasquez for sending them from the peace 
and security of their farms in Cuba to the horrors 
of death in this country. Finally we agreed to sue 



War: and How Montezuma Died 247 

for peace so that we might leave Mexico. But dawn 
had barely come when fresh squadrons of Mexicans 
attacked our quarters again with stubborn and ex- 
cessive fury. Our cannon and firearms availed noth- 
ing. 

At this moment of danger Cortes determined that 
the great Montezuma should speak to the mob from 
the roof and tell them they must stay their attacks and 
that we wished to leave the city. When they gave 
him this message the monarch is said from deep grief 
to have cried out, " What more does Malinche want 
of me ! — of me, tired of life, to such misery has 
he brought me! I will neither see nor hear more 
of this man. I put no faith in his lies." And he 
refused to do as Cortes wished. Then the Padre 
de Olmedo and Olid spoke in reverence and affection 
and persuaded him to change his mind. "Alas!" 
answered the monarch, " it is now too late. I be- 
lieve I can gain nothing towards ending the war, for 
they have raised up another cacique and are de- 
termined you shall die. I think that all of you will 
meet death here." 

In the end, however, Montezuma under guard of 
our soldiers went to a battlement of the roof. Many 
of the chieftains recognized him and ordered their 
men to be silent and hurl no missiles. Montezuma 
then began addressing the people, and in most af- 
fectionate manner told them to cease warring. Four 



248 The Mastering of Mexico 

of the chiefs advanced to a spot where they could 
talk with him, and with tears in their eyes they said, 
" Alas ! great cacique, your own misfortune, and that 
of your children, afflict us sorely. We must tell you 
we have raised one of your kinsmen to be our ruler, 
and we are forced to carry on the war because we 
have vowed to our gods not to stop till every teul 
is killed. To Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca we 
pray daily to deliver you safe from our enemy's 
power, when we shall hold you in greater veneration 
than before; and we beg you to forgive us now." 

They had hardly done this speech when a shower 
of arrows and darts fell near the monarch. Our 
men who had stood by to cover him with shields had, 
while he was speaking, withdrawn their cover. 
Three stones struck the great Montezuma, one on 
the head, another on the arm and another on the leg. 
We carried the unhappy monarch to his apartment, 
and begged him to have the wounds bandaged, and 
to take food to strengthen him. But he refused 
everything. In a little time they came to say he 
was dead. Cortes wept for him, and no man among 
us who had come to know him in close relations who 
did not bemoan him as though he were a father, he 
was so good. 

Cortes now ordered a papa and a cacique among 
our prisoners to go to the monarch the Mexicans had 
chosen and say that the great Montezuma was dead, 



War: and How Montezuma Died 249 

and to tell how he came to die by wounds his own 
people had given, and how grieved we Spaniards 
were. They were to tell, moreover, that they should 
bury him for the great king he was, and should in 
his royal seat set his cousin who was staying with us, 
or one of his sons, and then make treaty of peace 
with us so that we might quit Mexico. If they did 
not do this, we, who had held ourselves from de- 
stroying the city in our respect and love for Mon- 
tezuma, would make a war that would burn their 
houses and do no end of damage. 

Upon this we gave the body of Montezuma to 
six caciques and the papas whom we held prisoners, 
and they bore it on their shoulders and delivered it 
to the chieftains, telling how they had seen the great 
monarch die. When the Mexicans saw him dead 
they broke into floods of tears and shrieked and 
moaned bitterly. But they never let up the fierce 
assault they made on us, rather they came at us with 
renewed fury, shouting, " We will make you pay 
for the death of our monarch and your insults to our 
gods ! You beg peace? Come out here and we will 
show you how we will make it." They said much 
else that I can not remember and so do not report, 
but it was to the effect that they would elect * a mon- 

* This goes to show the institutions of the Mexicans were in 
foundation democratic — "the chiefs and leaders," wrote the dis- 
tinguished archaeologist, Adolph F. A. Bandelier, " filled elective 
and in no case hereditary positions." 



250 The Mastering of Mexico 

arch not so good-natured as Montezuma. " Don't 
trouble yourselves about the burial. Think of your 
own, for in a couple of days there will not be one of 
you alive." 



CHAPTER XVII 

How we retreated from Mexico; our night of sorrows; the 
days following the sorrowful night; our punitive expe- 
ditions, and how various towns begged Cortes to stop 
Mexican violence; why we laughed at Olid's expedition 
and how arrival of ships increased our forces. 

With direst threats and yells sounding in our 
ears, our food and water beginning to fail, our 
powder fast diminishing, the bridges on the cause- 
ways raised — in short with death staring us in the 
face, we agreed in our council of war to leave the 
city at night when the Mexicans were most off their 
guard. To mislead them as to our time, we sent, 
that very afternoon, one of our prisoners, a papa, 
to say that they should let us in peace march out of 
the city within eight days. 

First and most important of preparations for our 
retreat was a movable bridge of strong beams that 
we could carry and use where the former bridges 
had been broken. Four hundred Tlaxcalans and 
one hundred and fifty of our men were to have charge 
of this bridge and fix it in position when the need 
came. Two hundred and fifty Tlaxcalans and fifty 
of our men were told off for the heavy guns. San- 

251 



252 The Mastering of Mexico 

doval and one hundred of our most active soldiers 
were to form a vanguard and clear the streets. 
Cortes should go in the middle and support the part 
most needing help. In the rear were to go the main 
body of cavalry, the baggage, our prisoners, and 
Donna Marina, all guarded by three hundred 
Tlaxcalans and thirty Spaniards. 

Night was fast approaching, when our captain told 
his steward to see that his domestics brought the 
gold, silver and jewels together in the hall. Then 
Cortes named two officers to take charge of our 
king's portion and load as heavily as possible eight 
of the wounded horses and eighty Tlaxcalans with 
it. For the most part it was in broad bars of gold. 
To his secretary and the king's notaries Cortes 
further said, " Put down in writing for witness that 
I have done all I could to save this treasure of over 
seven hundred thousand dollars in gold. You see 
the Indian porters and the horses can carry no more. 
I now permit any soldier to take what he can carry, 
otherwise it may fall into the hands of these dogs 
of Mexicans." 

As soon as they heard this, the soldiers of Narv^aez 
and many of our men stowed away as much of the 
metal as they could. I have never had the failing 
of coveting gold, but I took four chalchihuite stones 
out of a small box and quickly put them under my 
cuirass. It was a deed well done, for later on they 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 253 

served to buy me food and get help to cure my 
wounds. 

That night a thin mist hung over the town and a 
gentle rain was falling, when, before midnight, we 
fixed the bridge in a gap the Mexicans had made and 
Cortes and the soldiers with him, and also many 
horsemen, passed over. Just then the yells, trumpets 
and whistles of the Mexicans suddenly burst forth 
calling to the people, "Up! Up! Out with your 
canoes for the teules are leaving! " Straightway so 
vast bodies of the enemy bore down upon us, and the 
lake at once became so crowded with canoes, that 
we were unable to move further. 

We now had a most obstinate conflict to get pos- 
session of the bridge, and, as mischances never come 
singly, two of the horses slipped on the wet planks 
and fell into the lake. When I and others saw this 
we got to the other side of the bridge, and so many 
warriors charged us that though we fought desper- 
ately, the bridge turned by overbalance. Still, those 
in the rear kept continually pushing forward, and 
soon the opening was filled with dead horses, Indian 
men and women servants, baggage and many of our 
men, some of whom were drowned and others drawn 
into canoes by Indians as prisoners. The scene was 
heartrending. And to hear the pitiful cries! 
"Help! Help! I am sinking!" cried one here. 
" Help ! they are killing me ! " screamed another 



254 The Mastering of Mexico 

there. Here one reached the water-edge and im- 
plored us to Hft him out, while further off another 
clambered over dead bodies only to meet dense 
crowds of the foe. Could any one believe a man of 
us observed the order of retreat? He were a fool. 

Cortes with some of the officers and soldiers had 
passed, as I said, and had spurred along the cause- 
way to reach the main land. If we had waited, 
horseman and soldiers, one for another, what would 
it have availed? Groups of thirt}'- or forty would 
have been cut to pieces; not one of us would have 
been left alive, for on one side the causeway was the 
lake swarming with canoes to carry us off prisoners, 
and on the other hosts of warriors on the flat house- 
roofs pelting us with lances and stones and cutting 
us with our own swords — which the enemy had 
taken and fixed to their lances. Our muskets and 
crossbows were useless because of the rain, and the 
darkness made every movement uncertain. We 
should have fared even worse had it been day. By 
the grace of God only did we escape. 

So we drove ahead to get to the town of Tacuba, 
where our vanguard had arrived. Finally we heard 
voices saying to Cortes, " Captain, we are safe here, 
but they say we are fleeing and leaving men behind 
to die. Let us go back and bring them help." 
Cortes answered that it was a miracle that one of 
us escaped, and he promptly turned back with some 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 255 

of our officers and soldiers who were unhurt. They 
did not go far. Alvarado, on foot, for he had lost 
his brown mare, and with him a few soldiers and 
Tlaxcalans, all dripping with blood, met them. The 
eyes of Cortes were wet with tears when he saw their 
woeful plight and learned that Leon and many other 
gentlemen lay dead, and that these few men had 
crossed the opening in the causeway upon dead bodies 
of men and the horses and the boxes with which it 
was choked. 

Now that we, or the remnant of us, were at 
Tacuba we were not escaping attack, and we sought 
to quit the terrible neighborhood. Although the 
Mexicans continually harassed us with arrows, darts 
and slings, we marched by a bye-road, of which our 
Tlaxcalan friends knew, to a temple built like a fort. 
Here we halted and lighted fires and eased our sore 
bodies. Grievous It was to see our aching wounds, 
swollen by the cold, as we bound them with cloths. 
But what was more grievous was the loss of our 
brave companions. I do not name them. It would 
take long, so great was the number missing. Most 
of the men of Narvaez met death at the bridge be- 
cause of the weight of gold which they had taken 
when Cortes offered the treasure. 

Only twenty three horses escaped. We had not 
a grain of powder and our cannon were lost. We 
at once might make arrows, but our crossbows were 



256 The Mastering of Mexico 

few. More pressing than all, however, was the 
question, what would be the disposition of our In- 
dian friends towards us? We determined to go for- 
ward with Tlaxcalans in advance as guides, our se- 
verely wounded in the centre and those too lame to 
walk bound upon horses unfit for fighting. But our 
enemy, the Mexicans, were day and night close at 
our heels, yelling and shouting at us and hurling 
stones, arrows and darts. 

On we marched through plantations and hamlets, 
the Mexicans always in pursuit and striving to lock 
us in some narrow place and slay us. One night we 
quartered ourselves in some houses and supped off 
a horse they had killed. The next morning as we 
advanced, our scouts brought word that countless 
Mexican warriors filled the fields ahead. Here, 
however, our courage did not flag, and when our 
horsemen dashed over the level ground in full gal- 
lop on the enemy, our foot soldiers seemed to put 
double strength and spirit in their sword thrusts. 
It was a terrific battle. And to see Cortes ! and Al- 
varado, who had borrowed a horse! And to hear 
the valiant Sandoval, all covered with wounds, en- 
courage us, " Now, gentlemen, this is the day for 
victory. Our trust is in God. We shall not lose." 
The battle was hot. The Mexican chief fell and his 
warriors gave way and fled. But at this moment, 
indeed, we felt neither hunger, nor thirst, nor the 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 257 

pain of wounds, nor memory of disaster, as we fol- 
lowed up our victory, pursuing, wounding, killing. 
Our Tlaxcalan friends proved themselves very lions. 
Our horsemen at last returned from pursuit, and we 
gave thanks to God for our escape from so powerful 
an enemy, for never before in the Indies had the 
Spaniards fought so great a number of warriors, the 
very flower of the joint armies of Mexico and Its al- 
lies. That day we supped off gourds, marching as 
we ate, and at the approach of evening came to a 
temple where we fortified ourselves, dressed our 
wounds, and the hurts of our horses, and got some 
rest. 

And now we were soon to be as delighted as 
though we saw our native land, for we were to come 
In sight of the hills of Tlaxcala. Yet who could tell 
how the people there would feel towards us to-day? 
And, too, what had happened to those of us at Vera 
Cruz? Were they still alive? Of our great num- 
bers only four hundred and forty survived, with 
twenty horses and twelve crossbowmen and seven 
musketeers. Each of us was weak and covered with 
wounds. Very clearly, said Cortes, we could see 
how it had pleased God to save us in a miraculous 
rescue, and we should give thanks. But our troops 
were now the same in number as when we first en- 
tered Mexico, and It behooved us to offer the Tlax- 
calans no cause for offence, and trust to find them 



258 The Mastering of Mexico 

faithful and true. If it should turn out that they 
were not, then we must carry still further our strong 
arm and oak. heart. 

When we reached the boundary walls between the 
Tlaxcalan and Mexican lands, we halted to wash 
ourselves at a spring on a hillside and to eat. Re- 
freshed in measure, we again set out and under the 
escort of many caciques and people who met us at 
a smaller town, we finally entered Tlaxcala, patiently 
to await the cure of our wounds. In that town we 
rested twenty-two days. Then Cortes determined 
on making punitive excursions into the province of 
Tepeaca, where the people had slain several of our 
soldiers on their way to Mexico. 

It had become clear that the soldiers of Narvaez 
were not used to fighting. Those who survived the 
carnage at the bridge of sorrows and the great battle 
we fought in the fields, cursed Cortes and his con- 
quest, and could hardly await their return to Cuba. 
Then, too, they cursed the gold he had given them 
and which they had for the most part lost. Content 
to have escaped with their lives, they wanted no more 
fighting, but rather to go back to their homes. Our 
captain, thinking he could bend them to his purpose, 
answered in quiet, kindly talk. But when they saw 
their complaints had no effect on Cortes, they went 
before a notary and drew up a formal protest de- 
manding that he abandon war and go at once to Vera 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 259 

Cruz, giving reasons that we had neither horses, 
muskets, powder, crossbows nor thread to make bow 
strings — in short, that we had none of the necessi- 
ties of war and out of our company only four hun- 
dred and forty men survived. Moreover, they pro- 
tested, Mexican warriors held every pass and strong- 
hold, and if we longer delayed ship-worms would 
eat our vessels as they lay in the harbor. 

This protest our captain answered by far more 
weighty contradictions, and when we of his old troop 
begged him most earnestly not to permit followers 
of Narvaez to go, for it would hurt the cause of God 
and the interests of our emperor, and when they saw 
their efforts were fruitless, they finally consented to 
join us in the campaign, provided Cortes would per- 
mit them, when opportunity came, to return to Cuba. 
Still, their murmurs did not end, but day by day they 
complained — how dearly they had paid for Cortes' 
conquest in giving up the peace and security of com- 
fortable homes. 

Our captain had wished the caciques of Tlaxcala 
to furnish him with five thousand warriors on his 
march to Tepeaca and its towns, some twenty-eight 
miles away, against which we aimed to carry our 
arms. If our wish to take vengeance for the death 
of Spaniards was great, that of the caciques of Tlax- 
cala, because of the robbing of farms, was greater, 
and they sent four thousand warriors to join us who 



26o The Mastering of Mexico 

numbered now seventeen horses, six crossbowmen 
and four hundred and twenty soldiers. We took 
merely a single day's food, for the country we were 
invading was thickly peopled and supplied with 
maize, fowls and dogs. Keeping a few scouts in ad- 
vance, we camped for the first night about twelve 
miles from Tepeaca. 

The people there were quite prepared for our 
coming, for they knew we had found a kindly shelter 
at Tlaxcala, and they took it for granted that as 
soon as we felt our strength restored we would over- 
run their territories. Mexican troops therefore kept 
guard all along the boundaries, and Tepeaca itself 
they strongly garrisoned. To this town Cortes, who 
in all such matters aimed at strict justice and order, 
sent some prisoners we had taken to ask who and 
how many were concerned in the murder of the six- 
teen Spaniards on their way to Mexico; why the 
Tepeacans had attacked and robbed the farms of 
the Tlaxcalans; for what reasons such vast numbers 
of Mexican troops bore them company; and he 
begged the Tepeacans to come at once and make 
friends with us and turn the Mexicans out, and if 
they did not, we should look on them as rebels, mur- 
derers and robbers, and, first desolating their coun- 
try with fire and sword, give them into sla\cry. 

The prisoners faithfully carried our message. If 
we, however, had sent a threatening summons, the 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 261 

answer the enemy sent back was still fiercer, for, 
puffed up with their late victory, the Mexicans spoke 
with terrible assurance, and finally after our repeated 
offers of peace, declared that we should not advance 
further; if we did advance, they would fall on us 
and have a bigger feast from Spanish flesh than they 
had had after the night of sorrows and the battle of 
the fields. 

We now had a council of war in which it was 
agreed and taken down in writing by a notary, that 
all the allies of Mexico who had killed Spaniards 
should be turned into slaves, on the ground that 
after swearing allegiance to our king, they had re-' 
belled and slain more than eight hundred of our peo- 
ple and over fifty of our horses. This decision 
Cortes sent to our enemy and again asked for peace. 
They replied that if we did not at once quit the prov- 
ince they would come out and kill us. Next day 
we met the vaunters in a severe battle. A ground of 
maize and maguey plantations proved favorable to 
our horsemen and the enemy's bravely availed them 
little. To see the spirit of our Tlaxcalan allies ! — 
how valiant they were ! — and how they pursued the 
enemy! When the Tepeacans became convinced 
that the Mexicans were no protection, they sent mes- 
sengers suing for peace and they then took the oath 
of allegiance to our king. 

Because it was on the road to Vera Cruz, and be- 



262 The Mastering of Mexico 

cause the town was one among many and the land 
about it produced plenty of maize, and we had allies, 
the Tlaxcalans, to guard the frontier, we founded a 
town at Tepeaca and set up a regular government. 
We scoured the neighboring territory, and at one 
town where fifteen Spaniards had been killed, we 
turned many into slaves. We cast an iron to brand 
those we took for slaves, and its mark was the letter 
G, which means guerra, war. Within forty days 
we had all the towns punished and thoroughly at 
peace. 

The successor of Montezuma, he who had driven 
us out of Mexico, about this time died of smallpox. 
Another now came to the headship, a near relative 
of Montezuma, about twenty-five years old, for an 
Indian very well-bred and more inclined to white 
than to the copper-brown of his race. The new 
monarch was valiant, moreover, and soon made him- 
self so feared among his people that, in his presence, 
they trembled. His wife, one of Montezuma's 
daughters, passed for a beauty among her country- 
women. 

When this new ruler learned that we had defeated 
the Mexicans at Tepeaca, and that the people of the 
town had given their fealty to our king, he feared 
that we would overrun his other provinces and re- 
duce them to our service, and he therefore sent mes- 
sengers to every town witii commands that they be 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 263 

ready for action. To some of the town caciques he 
sent presents of gold, and others he freed from trib- 
ute. But above all he sent out companies of war- 
riors with the command that they fight us fiercely and 
prevent us from entering his territory. 

This new monarch, Guatemoc, had thrown espe- 
cially strong garrisons, as I said, into towns that lay 
on the boundaries, in particular into Guacachula and 
Izucar. In these cities, about twelve miles from 
each other, his Mexican warriors were such a host, 
and they so felt their strength, that they took liber- 
ties and went so far as to do acts of violence — as 
robbing people of their mantles, their maize, their 
fowls, their gold, and even of their daughters and 
wives, if the women were pretty. So when the Gua- 
cachulans considered how the town of Cholula had 
enjoyed peace ever since the day it had rid itself of 
Mexican garrisons, and how again it was the same 
at Tepeaca and other towns, they secretly despatched 
four chieftains to Cortes and asked him to send his 
teules with their horses to stop the robberies and as- 
saults; and they added that all the people of the 
town and neighborhood would aid us in slaying the 
Mexicans. 

This call for aid appealed to Cortes and he de- 
termined to send out Cristobal de OHd in command 
of nearly all the horsemen and soldiers and a large 
force of Tlaxcalans — for the booty the Tlaxcalans 



264 The Mastering of Mexico 

had carried off from Tepeaca had induced many 
more to join us. Now among Olid's three hundred 
soldiers were several followers of Narvaez, and as 
they went on their way some Indians told these Nar- 
vaez men that all the fields and houses in the country 
to which they were marching were filled with Mexi- 
can warriors — this and other hugger-mugger 
stories. 

These men of Narvaez had from the beginning 
no liking for this new expedition, or again to taste 
fighting; rather they bent all their thoughts on get- 
ting back to Cuba. Their memories of the perilous 
flight from Mexico, and of their terrific battle in 
the fields, urged them so that they begged Olid to 
turn back, for this expedition would fail and every 
man of them perish. In vain the leader expostu- 
lated, Cortes' own soldiers standing behind all he 
said and agreeing there must be no retreat. The 
others refused to advance another step; and at last 
they so confused the mind of Olid that he turned 
back, and wrote Cortes the state of things. 

The letter greatly angered Cortes and he sent two 
crossbowmen with a letter marvelling that an officer 
of Olid's strength and courage should fail to do what 
he had been ordered. When Olid read what Cortes 
had written, he shouted with chagrin, and bitterly 
reproached those who had led him into disobedience 
of commands. At once he issued orders for all to 




Cristobal de Olid, a very valiant man 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 265 

come with him, and if there were any who did not 
want to join, they were to go back to headquarters 
and receive the reward of cowards and deserters. 

The vexation of the whole matter turned Olid 
into a fierce lion, and shortly after, when he met the 
enemy in the field, he led his men to a triumphant vic- 
tory. The Mexican garrisons retreated and forti- 
fied themselves in another large town where there 
was another great body of warriors posted in a fort. 
To this place again Olid, and those who would fol- 
low him, marched and fell so furiously upon their 
foes that they routed them completely. 

When this force of Olid's returned from the ex- 
pedition, Cortes and the rest of us went out to meet 
them; and we had much laughter about the discon- 
tented having persuaded Cristobal de Olid to turn 
back. And Olid even laughed at it himself and said 
that some of his soldiers had thought more of their 
mines in Cuba than of their soldiers' arms; and he 
vowed that never again would he go on an expedi- 
tion with any of the rich followers of Narvaez, but 
would take with him only a few of the poor soldiers 
of Cortes. In these days Sandoval also led an ex- 
pedition against other towns where Spaniards had 
been attacked and made way with, and came back to 
where we lay at Tepeaca, bringing clothes, arms and 
two saddles which they had found in a temple of- 
fered before idols. His force also brought back 



266 The Mastering of Mexico 

great numbers of Indian women and boys who were 
branded with the iron as slaves. 

Perfect tranquillity now reigned. Both during our 
expeditions, and while we were lying at Tepeaca, 
several ships came to port. One, fitted out in Cuba, 
brought letters In which Diego Velasquez, believing 
that Narvaez had now conquered New Spain, sent 
word that if Narvaez had not already killed Cortes, 
he should at once send him alive, with all his chief of- 
ficers, to Cuba, that he, Velasquez, might ship them to 
Spain; — indeed, such were the orders of the bishop 
of Burgos, who was also archbishop of Rosano and 
president of the council of the Indies. When our 
admiral, Cavallero, had received the new comers 
with careful courtesy, and had got them ashore, he 
then said, " Surrender! in the name of our captain 
general, Cortes!" They were dumbfounded. But 
they submitted and removed sails, rudder and com- 
pass from the ship, and afterwards the captain of 
the ship, Barba, with thirteen soldiers and two 
horses, marched on to our quarters. Great was our 
joy at their coming, for they brought us aid at the 
very minute we needed it. Only eight days after 
Cavallero captured another ship, and in the same 
manner, that is, by welcoming the new arrivals and 
not letting them know that Narvaez had failed till 
they were landed and in his power; and all the forces 



Our Defeat and Later Relief 267 

on board, eight soldiers, a mare, six crossbows and 
twine for bowstrings, he forwarded. Our pleasure 
at the coming of the new guests was greater even 
than at those of a few days before, and Cortes paid 
them much honor and gave each man something 
to do. 

We thanked God most heartily for this strength- 
ening of our forces with soldiers, crossbows and 
horses. But still more aid arrived; for ships which 
Francisco de Garay had sent to form a settlement on 
the river Panuco came to harbor, the first bearing 
sixty soldiers. They had fortunately escaped, re- 
embarked and come to our port after Indians had 
massacred the settlers on the Panuco and set fire to 
the ships. These sixty soldiers were all of them ill 
and got to our camp very slowly, for they had been 
so weakened by hunger they could scarcely walk. 
When Cortes saw them so swollen in body he knew 
they were no material for fighting men, and that we 
should hardly be able to cure them, but he gave them 
to our care and did them every possible kindness. 
Many of them died. 

The next ship to come to our port had also been 
sent by Garay to succor his Panuco colony, but when 
the captain ran up the Panuco and found no trace of 
the settlers, and also learned from Indians that they 
had been slain, he hoisted sail and made for Vera 



268 The Mastering of Mexico 

Cruz. There he at once disembarked his soldiers, 
who numbered more than fifty, with seven horses, 
and started for the place where we were stationed. 

Again a few days after another ship arrived at 
our port, likewise despatched by Garay to protect 
and succor his Panuco forces, which he thought safe 
and well. This ship brought over forty men, ten 
horses, crossbows and other arms. Thus it was that 
Francisco de Garay sent off one ship after another 
to the aid of his colony and each served him in no 
way and only went to increase the advantages of 
Cortes and ourselves, for they finally arrived at Vera 
Cruz and brought us most welcome help. The men 
from the last of these two ships were so hearty and 
fat when they came in that we called them " strong- 
backs," and those from the third, " pack-saddles," 
because they wore heavy cotton cuirasses, so thick 
that no arrow could penetrate them. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

How Cortes used the ships, and ordered Martin Lopez to 
model thirteen sloops for the lake of Mexico; what hap- 
pened as our army marched to Texcoco and Sandoval 
went to fetch timber of the sloops; of the great thirst we 
endured, our march about the lake, and the plot to stab 
Cortes. 

When the officers of Narvaez saw that the towns 
of the province of Tepeaca were at peace, they 
begged Cortes to do as he had promised and give 
them leave to go back to the island of Cuba. Their 
request Cortes was not slow in granting, and he even 
sent them off supphed with such food as we at that 
time had, maize, salted dog's flesh and a few fowls, 
and promised that, although many of them went 
away rich, if he wholly conquered New Spain, he 
would give them more gold. We who remained be- 
hind asked Cortes why he gave them leave to go, 
for we were so few. He answered that he wanted 
to be done with their importunities and complaints; 
it was better to be alone than in bad company, and 
we could see for ourselves that many of them were 
not fit for service. Alvarado had orders to see them 
to port and aboard one of the best ships, and then 
to return to headquarters. 

269 



270 The Mastering of Mexico 

In another ship Cortes despatched Alonzo de 
Mendoza and Diego de Ordas to Spain for some pur- 
pose he did not tell, and afterwards we only heard 
that when the bishop of Burgos told Ordas to his 
face that we were a parcel of villains and traitors, 
Ordas stood up stoutly for us. In a third ship Cor- 
tes sent Alonzo de Avila to Santo Domingo to give 
to the governors of the islands account of what we 
had done — Cortes choosing Avila to get him out of 
the way, for he spoke his mind very freely and sided 
with us soldiers in every difficulty, as I have already 
told on page 235, if he thought us unjustly dealt 
with. 

Here the reader may ask how without money 
could Cortes send Ordas to Spain, for in Spain, as 
elsewhere, money is a necessity. And how could he 
send still another ship to buy horses in Jamaica? I 
can only say that when we were fleeing from Mexico 
on the night of our great sorrow, much gold, as I 
have told, was left in a heap, and many of the 
soldiers, especially the horsemen and followers of 
Narvaez, stowed away treasures from the heap. 
Then, besides, many of the eighty Tlaxcalans who 
were laden with gold were in the vanguard and got 
safely over the bridges. It is clear that not all the 
gold was lost on the causeway, but many loads saved. 
We poor soldiers who had no command, but only 
lived to obey, and on that night were trying to save 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 271 

our lives, cared little whether we had gold or not, 
and were happy to get off with any degree of safety 
and cure our wounds. Of the gold that was saved 
Cortes and some of the officers got as much as they 
could lay their hands on. 

In the peace now prevailing Cortes moved the main 
part of the troops to Tlaxcala, leaving behind at 
Tepeaca an officer with twenty soldiers ill or 
wounded. At this time also our captain ordered that 
enough timber should be cut to build thirteen sloops 
by which we might again reach Mexico, for it was 
certain we could not carry on war or enter by the 
causeways, and we could never master the waters 
surrounding the town without sloops. Martin Lo- 
pez, of whom I have already told as a good soldier 
in our fight with Narvaez, and an expert in model- 
ing and in cutting the wood of boats — this Martin 
Lopez now set to work with his unfailing and clever 
craftsmanship. He made such speed in cutting the 
wood — Indians whom the caciques of Tlaxcala sent 
to us aiding in felling and preparing — that he soon 
had the whole of it cut, and each beam marked for 
its place in its sloop after the way master carpenters 
marked pieces in their building. Another good sol- 
dier, Andrez Nunez, and a skilful old carpenter, 
Ramirez, lame of a wound, helped. Cortes also sent 
Santa Cruz, a worthy soldier, to Vera Cruz for the 
iron work and sails and cables of the ships we de- 



272 The Mastering of Mexico 

stroyed; and with orders that all the blacksmiths 
should come to Tlaxcala to do the forging. With 
the help of more than a thousand Indian porters to 
carry the loads, Santa Cruz brought everything over 
the mountains, even cauldrons for boiling the pitch 
with which to caulk the sloops. Our Indians did not 
know how to extract tar, and here we were at a loss 
till Cortes picked four sailors who understood the 
work and sent them off to some pine woods to 
make It. 

As soon as Cortes saw that the croakers with their 
infection of others with cowardice were off for Cuba, 
and that the timber was preparing for the sloops, 
he determined to march with all our soldiers to Tex- 
coco, after Mexico one of the largest cities of New 
Spain. Whether Texcoco was the best place for 
putting together and launching the sloops we dis- 
cussed at great length, for some of the soldiers 
claimed that Ayotzingo, near Chalco, had better 
canals, while others maintained that Texcoco was 
better, standing as it did near many other towns, and 
that when we once got it in our power we should 
be better able to plan our operations against Mex- 
ico. 

We had scarcely settled on the town I have said 
when some soldier brought news from Vera Cruz 
that a large ship had run in from Spain and the 
Canaries, laden not only with crossbows and cross- 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 273 

bow-cords, muskets, powder and other arms, but also 
with three horses and thirteen soldiers. Great was 
our dehght ! Cortes sent at once to bargain for all 
the arms and powder, in fact, for the whole cargo of 
the ship. If before this we were in good spirits for 
our start for Texcoco, now we felt the more elation 
on having this timely succor. All the passengers on 
board, and even the sailing master, came to our 
camp, where we gave them warmest welcome. 

When our captain found himself so rich in mus- 
kets, powder, crossbows and horses, and saw how 
impatient we all were, officers and soldiers alike, 
again to attack the great city of Mexico, he asked the 
caciques of Tlaxcala to send ten thousand warriors 
to join us in our campaign. He was making them 
a speech about the matter when an elder cacique as- 
sured him that not only ten thousand warriors, but 
many more were at his service. We began our 
march a day or two after Christmas of the year 
1520. 

Our enemies, the Mexicans, had barricaded the 
mountain passes between Tlaxcala and Texcoco with 
felled trees and otherwise, but our Indian friends 
cleared away the trees and filled up holes so that our 
horsemen could pass, and when on the second day 
we descended from the heights and saw before us 
the lake of Mexico and its great cities standing in 
the midst of waters, we thanked God for allowing 



274 The Mastering of Mexico 

us to look upon the scene again, and vowed we would 
act more prudently in this campaign. 

The people of Texcoco were not now on the best 
of terms with the Mexicans, and, moreover, smallpox 
was raging throughout the whole district, and in 
these reasons, perhaps, lay the fact that on the fol- 
lowing day, as we neared Texcoco our scouts 
brought the glad tidings that ten unarmed Indians 
were approaching, bearing a golden banner. Upon 
coming to us they lowered the banner in token of 
peace, and when they neared Cortes, who had our 
two interpreters. Donna Marina and Aguilar, stand- 
ing by him, they said, " Malinche, our master, the 
cacique of Texcoco sends us to beg you to take him 
into your friendship. He awaits you in the city, and 
as signal of peace sends you this banner, and asks 
you to order your brothers and the Tlaxcalans not to 
harm his land and in his city to be his guests." 

Cortes was overjoyed at the message, and em-j 
braced the ambassadors warmly. Nevertheless, in 
counselling with his officers, who also were of his 
opinion, he could not but suspect the Indians were 
playing some trick — for if the Texcocans had been 
honestly inclined they would have not acted in so 
great a hurry, and would have brought food. How- 
ever, he accepted the golden banner with thanks, and 
assured the bearers that he was not in the habit of 
ill-treating any vassal of our king, and if they kept 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 275 

the peace which they now sought, he would protect 
them from the Mexicans and order the Tlaxcalans 
to do them no injury. 

Early next morning we entered Texcoco itself, and 
at once it struck us as singular that we saw neither 
women nor children, only men seemingly avoiding 
us, as if at war with us. After we had got to our 
quarters in some great halls, and Cortes had sum- 
moned the officers and most of us, he ordered Al- 
varado. Olid, some other soldiers and me to ascend 
the great temple and look over the town and lake. 
We had no sooner got to the top than we saw the 
people of towns round about moving away their be- 
longings, some taking to the hills and others hiding in 
the reed-thickets of the water. All the lake was alive 
with canoes. 

When we reported these facts Cortes determined 
to seize the sender of the golden banner, the cacique 
of Texcoco, and he despatched papas to summon 
their ruler. They returned, reporting that he had 
fled with many chieftains to Mexico. In secret un- 
derstanding with the cacique of Mexico, chieftains 
told us next day, this runaway cacique had murdered 
his elder brother to raise himself to power. The 
rightful heir, whom the Texcocans named, Cortes, 
with all solemnity and without delay, installed as 
cacique. Greatly esteemed and beloved by his sub- 
jects, he became a convert to Christianity and ren- 



276 The Mastering of Mexico 

dered us a considerable service, for Cortes required 
of him a large force to broaden and deepen the 
canals through which we were to draw our sloops to 
the lake. Every day from seven to eight thousand 
of this cacique's Indians were busy at the main canal 
— for Cortes' purpose was to enclose Mexico on all 
sides — and they deepened and broadened it so that 
it could have floated ships of large size. 

About this time several townships sent to ask for- I 
giveness and sue for peace, if we identified them with 
murder of our countrymen in late wars. But others 
published their hostility towards us by raiding towns 
which wanted to be friends with us. The Tlaxcalans 
who were with us were anxious to gain honors in 
fighting the Mexicans and their allies and to avenge 
the death of kindred who had been sacrificed. Our 
own soldiers were idling at Texcoco. In considera- 
tion of these facts Cortes determined on several ex- 
peditions to neighboring towns, to punish our ene- 
mies, defend our friends and always seek still other 
allies. One expedition he commanded in person; 
another Sandoval led. 

But our carpenters in Tlaxcala had now so far 
prepared the timber for our sloops that all was ready 
and waiting. Days passed. Expeditions went out 
and came back. Yet no sloop timber reached Tex- 
coco. Many of our soldiers felt very anxious about 
the state of affairs. It was therefore after much 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 277 

impatience and ardent longing to begin our siege of 
the great city that Cortes ordered Sandoval to take 
two hundred soldiers, twenty musketeers and cross- 
bowmen, fifteen horsemen, a strong body of Tlax- 
calans, and to these to add twenty chieftains of Tex- 
coco, and to fetch the woodwork. He was also to 
convey elders and children of Chalco to places of 
greater safety. 

Moreover, he was to go to a town close by the 
road leading to Tlaxcala and punish the people for 
attacking a company of Spaniards who were passing 
through a narrow road in the mountains where they 
could march only one by one. Some of the Span- 
iards they killed in the pass; the blood of others 
they took prisoners still stained the idols and walls 
of the temple where the Indians had sprinkled it. 
Skins off the faces of two, tanned like skin for gloves, 
and the beards still on them, lay as an offering on 
an altar. The skins of four horses, also tanned with 
the hair on, hung before the main altar, alongside 
the horse shoes, as token of victory. Articles of 
Spanish dress were suspended as offerings before 
idols, while a pillar of one of the houses told us in 
letters written in charcoal, " Here the unfortunate 
Juan Yuste and others of his company were impris- 
oned." This Juan Yuste was a gentleman who had 
served under Narvaez. 

These evidences of our brothers' suffering and 



2/8 The Mastering of Mexico 

cutting off of life greatly grieved Sandoval and his 
men. Yet what better could they do than show 
mercy in return? Fear had fallen upon the people 
and they had fled to the mountains. A few chiefs 
and women whom Sandoval took wept for the ex- 
pected fate of all. But Sandoval sent these few to 
bring back the people, and upon their return they 
begged forgiveness of the past and declared them- 
selves faithful vassals of our king for the future, 

Sandoval and his men now went on the way to 
Tlaxcala, and when he neared the capital, where the 
cacique lived, he found eight thousand Tlaxcalans 
carrying on their shoulders all the wood and other 
building material for the sloops, and as many more 
warriors with arms and plumes acting guard, besides 
two thousand porters bringing food. Caciques com- 
manded these forces, but Martin Lopez, our great 
master carpenter, was in charge of the transport. 
When Sandoval saw the whole matter of transporta- 
tion working out so efficiently he was delighted, for 
he had expected the work of getting the timber 
started would detain him days in Tlaxcala. 

In the same order in which the transporting party 
was moving when we met them, we marched towards 
Texcoco. After we entered Mexican territory, that 
is, after two days, the enemy showed their derision 
by whistling and yelling hideously at us from farms 
and ravines and other places beyond reach of our 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 279 

horsemen and musketeers. Martin Lopez, who had 
charge, as I said, advised that we now change the 
order of our march, for the Tlaxcalans had told him 
that the Mexicans might attack and defeat those 
heavily laden with materials and food supplies. 
Therefore Sandoval divided the horsemen and cross- 
bowmen so that some should always be in advance, 
and others on the flanks, and others form the rear 
guard with Sandoval himself. Another two days' 
march brought the transport in front of Texcoco, 
which town the Tlaxcalans entered, clad in their 
finest mantles and head-feathers, in military order, 
drums and trumpets playing, and themselves shout- 
ing, "Long live the king! Spain forever! Tlax- 
cala forever ! " 

The porters laid the woodwork and other material 
for the sloops near the canals, where the boats were 
to be put together, and the builder-In-chief, Martin 
Lopez, aided by Andrez Nunez, and the elder Ra- 
mirez, and a sawyer, and certain Indian carpenters, 
and two blacksmiths with their forges, and Her- 
nando de Aguilar, who helped with the hammer — 
all together worked with such will that they put 
together the sloops in a very short time, and then 
they had merely to caulk them and set masts and 
rigging. 

We had now to keep a sharp outlook for Mexi- 
can spies, lest they should destroy the boats as they 



280 The Mastering of Mexico 

lay on the staples near the lake; indeed, three several 
times they did attempt to fire them. But the Mexi- 
cans were now engaged in despatching messengers 
to every town subject to the great city, and com- 
manding the people to make vigorous prepara- 
tions for war. Day and night they were also busy 
in deepening and widening the canals beneath the 
bridges, and strengthening their fortifications, mak- 
ing long lances to throw against our horses, and get- 
ting in order darts and dart-throwers and swords 
and round stones. 

After several expeditions to towns within a few 
miles of Texcoco, Cortes determined on his march 
against hostile cities and villages about the lake. To 
accomplish this, we set out in the morning of the 
5th of April, 152 I, the first night casting our camp 
at Tlamanalco, where the people received us kindly. 
When, next day, we reached Chalco, Cortes sent for 
all the caciques of the province and made them a 
speech, through Donna Marina and Aguilar, telling 
how we wanted them to assemble all their warriors 
the following day and go with us, for we were now 
going to try to induce the towns near the lake to keep 
peace and also to see the country before, aided by 
our sloops, we blockaded Mexico. Agreeing to what 
we asked with one voice, more than twenty thousand 
Indians joined us — a larger force than had up to 
that time ever acted with us. Hope of booty doubt- 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 281 

less led many to join us, but the expectation of meals 
of human flesh, always plentiful after a battle, was 
no doubt an inducement. When armies march in 
Italy vultures, crows and other birds of prey follow 
to feed of the dead of the battlefield; so, for the same 
reason, I believe these many Indians followed us. 

We now had news that large bodies of Mexicans 
and their allies lay ready to attack us on a plain near 
by. Our march was up over some steep rocks be- 
tween two hills, on the tops of which hills Indians 
had built fortifications. Prom this shelter they and 
their wives now yelled and hooted at us. We 
marched quietly on our way, however, and came to a 
plain in which there were springs. On one side rose 
a high, rocky hill, and as we approached it warriors 
crowded its top and jeered at us and showered us 
with arrows and darts and stones. " It appears," 
said Cortes, halting before the hill, " that these Mex- 
icans seize strongholds and mock at us because they 
think we can not attack them "; and he sent horse- 
men to find a favorable point for an onset. They 
came back with word that the hill rose perpendicu- 
larly and the best approach was where we then were. 
Our captain ordered us to ascend. As we started to 
climb it was terrible to see the Indians toppling over 
huge boulders — which came bounding and thunder- 
ing down the hill's rugged sides. One soldier fell 
dead at my feet, without a word or groan. Still we 



282 The Mastering of Mexico 

kept on. Rolling and tearing boulders soon killed 
two more. Then in a few moments another brave 
soldier fell, crushed to death. Most of us were 
wounded by pieces split off the rocks by the tumbling 
masses. Only a miracle saved all of us from death. 

I was an active young fellow in those days, and I 
kept on following the standard bearer, Corral, and 
after we got under some projecting rocks we clam- 
bered from hollow to hollow. Finally sheltering 
himself behind a bunch of thorn trees, his face cov- 
ered with blood, his banner torn to rags, Corral 
called out, " Oh, Bernal Diaz, it is impossible to go 
further. There is place for neither hand nor foot. 
Keep in the shelter of the rock, and watch that none 
of these boulders hit you." He then shouted to the 
soldiers that they should pass on the word to Cortes. 
Even on the level, where our captain stood, the 
hurtling rocks had killed two or three soldiers. But 
from the winding of the hill Cortes had not seen that 
nearly all of us who started to climb were wounded 
or dead. He now signed by shouts and musket shots 
that we should retreat, and, each of us striving to 
help his neighbor, we finally got to the plain, our 
heads covered with wounds and blood, our banners 
rent and eight men slain. 

Large bodies of Mexicans lay in wait for us fur- 
ther on, stationed there in case the troops on the 
high hill should need their assistance. Retreating 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 283 

before us, they took up a strong position on another 
rock. We now suffered terribly from lack of water. 
Not a single drop passed our parched hps the whole 
day, and our horses suffered equally. The few 
springs we came upon our Indian allies crowded Into 
and turned into pools of mud. Half dead with 
thirst, we encamped for the night under some mul- 
berry trees — where the enemy greeted us with a 
shower of arrows, lances and rocks. 

Our combat with the foe on the neighboring hill 
next morning was short. While we were attempting 
to reach them they suddenly sued for peace. That 
we who were beneath might understand, the war- 
riors stopped shooting arrows and hurling stones, 
and the women waved their cloaks and made signs 
with their hands to indicate that they were willing 
to make maize cakes for us. The fact was they had 
not a drop of water among their great number of 
men, women and children — themselves and their 
slaves. Upon seeing their signals, Cortes ordered 
that fighting should cease, and that they should send 
down five chiefs to conclude peace. The caciques 
came shortly, and with show of profound respect 
begged that we would forgive them. Cortes an- 
swered that they deserved death, but since they had 
sued for peace they must go to the other hill and call 
the chiefs there, who must likewise sue for peace; 
and if they refused we should surround them till they 



284 The Mastering of Mexico 

died of thirst. All finally came, and after they had 
given many reasons why they should be pardoned, 
Cortes granted their prayer and declared them vas- 
sals of our king. 

Water we found very scarce in this whole district. 
But we marched on to the town of Oaxtepec, and 
there found a river flowing through a garden — the 
most splendid garden I have ever seen in its many 
kinds of fruit trees and roses and sv/eet-scented 
herbs, and in its medicinal plants and vegetables good 
to eat, and in its avenues and pleached alleys, and 
many houses adorned with pictures. Delighted, the 
whole of us encamped in this garden for a night, but 
the next morning we left for Cuernavaca. 

Cuernavaca was a natural stronghold by reason of 
the ravines about it, eight fathoms deep, with small 
streams at the bottom. It was also heavily gar- 
risoned. Our enemy, entrenched within the ravines, 
shot many arrows and lances at us, and hurled stones 
so that they fell without ceasing. A couple of miles 
further up our horsemen found that they might pass 
over, and we soldiers saw that we might climb along 
the branches of some trees that grew on either side 
of the ravines and met one another, and so we might 
get within. In making our passage on the branches 
three soldiers fell into the water below and one 
broke his leg. As I crept over my head grew quite 
dizzy. Still I got across, and as soon as twenty or 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 285 

thirty of us had reached the Inner side of the gully, 
we fell on the rear of the Mexicans. When they 
saw us and at the same time sighted our oncoming 
horsemen, they could not believe we had crossed, and 
in their astonishment, fancying we numbered more 
than we did, they turned and fled to hollows where 
we could not follow. Later, when we had quar- 
tered ourselves In a comfortable garden, caciques of 
the town came to us and, paying great respect to Cor- 
tes, handed him a present of gold and begged his 
pardon for meeting us with war, in excuse saying 
that the great cacique of Mexico had commanded 
them to attack us; but now they sincerely wished to 
become friends, for they were sure there was no 
stronghold we could not take. I still recall a strange 
remark these caciques made; namely, that our gods 
had told their gods that they and their towns should 
be chastized. 

Turning towards Xochimllco, a great city about 
eleven miles from Mexico, we marched In close or- 
der through a forest of pine trees without being able 
to find on the way a single drop of water. The sun 
was exceedingly hot. When Cortes saw the troop 
exhausted, and our allies, the Tlaxcalans, losing cour- 
age, and even two men dead of thirst, he ordered a 
halt under the shade of some pines, and sent horse- 
men ahead to search for villages or wells of water 
where we might camp for the night. 



286 The Mastering of Mexico 

As the horsemen set out I slipped away with my 
three strong Tlaxcalan servants and followed, and 
about two miles ahead we came upon farms on the 
hillsides. To our inexpressible joy we here found 
wells, and my Tlaxcalans brought from one of the 
houses a large earthen pitcher of very cold water, 
with which I and my Tlaxcalans quenched our thirst. 
Then I had the jug refilled, and because the dwellers 
of the farms were beginning to hoot and yell at us, 
I turned back and found Cortes just putting the 
troops in motion. I told him we had found water, 
and my Tlaxcalans were bringing him a jug full, but 
carefully hidden that no one might seize it, for thirst 
knows no laws. He and other officers about him 
were glad and drank their fill, and we marched on to 
the farms. But the houses, or their wells, did not 
have enough water for all the men, and owing to 
their hunger and thirst, some of the soldiers tried to 
moisten their mouths by chewing thistle-like plants, 
the sharp prickles of which hurt their tongues. 

Next morning we arrived in front of Xochimilco, 
built in a fresh water lake. The immense number of 
warriors standing ready to oppose our entrance I 
can not estimate. They covered the land. Many 
of them carried shining swords taken from us and 
now fastened on the end of their pikes. We met 
their terrific attack, and alter various ill-successes, 
dro\c them out of the open square. There several 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 287 

of our soldiers mounted to the top of the temple 
and looked over towards the city of Mexico — when 
they saw more than two thousand canoes, filled with 
warriors, making towards us as fast as paddles could 
bring them. The great cacique was likewise sending 
ten thousand men against us by land. 

I should weary the reader by detailing our terrible 
and obstinate conflicts of the next three days. I am 
myself tired of writing about our encounters. When 
Guatemoc sent his warriors by canoe and by land, 
he commanded that they were not to permit us to 
leave Xochimilco alive, and it was with the utmost 
exertion that we were at last able to cut our way 
through the Mexican hosts to a great plaza a little 
way from the town where they usually held their 
markets. Here we halted to arrange our order of 
march, and here Cortes told us of our perilous for- 
tunes — how the forces of Mexico were lying in 
wait for us in passes of the road we were about to 
travel. It would be a good thing, he said, if we 
were to leave behind as much of our baggage as we 
could spare, for it would only cumber us when we 
had to fight. To this we one and all answered that 
we could not be so cowardly and, please God, we 
were men enough to defend our baggage, ourselves 
and him, too. 

All along the road to Tacuba warriors never 
ceased making sudden attacks on us from positions 



288 The Mastering of Mexico 

where we could not well get at them; and then they 
would seek, refuge in neighboring creeks and inlets. 
After we had rested a couple of hours in Tacuba, 
our captain with several officers and soldiers, includ- 
ing myself, ascended the great temple from which 
we had view of the city of Mexico, and of the lake 
and other cities standing in the water. When the 
men who had never been there before saw the splen- 
dor before them, they could scarcely find words, and 
when further they gazed more carefully upon the 
great city, on the multitude of canoes hurrying up 
and down the lake, some laden with food, others 
empty, others with fishermen, they marvelled still 
more and said our coming to New Spain was not by 
the power of man alone, but by the great mercy of 
God; and moreover, never, in any writing, had they 
read of vassals who had done such signal service 
to their king as we had rendered ours. 

While Cortes and all of us stood there gazing on 
the wonderful city, and pointing out the lofty temple 
of Huitzilopochtli, the buildings where we were 
lodged, and the causeways and bridges along which 
we had retreated, Cortes sighed deeply and with 
great sadness. One of our number, rousing him 
from his contemplation, said, " Captain, do not give 
way to grief. It is ever so in war time." " How 
often have I not offered peace to that city!" an- 
swered Cortes. " But I am not grieving over that 



Sloop-Building: Round the Lake 289 

hardship only, I am thinking of what we must suf- 
fer before, with the aid of God, we master its forces." 
Breaking up our quarters in Tacuba, we marched 
on to Atzcapotzalco, which we found deserted, and 
then through heavy rains on to Guautitlan, and so 
round the lake to Texcoco; from which not only 
own people came to meet us, but also those lately 
from Spain; and, too, peoples of the neighborhood, 
who brought us food. 

While we were away, a friend of the governor of 
Cuba, one Villafana, conspired with soldiers of the 
party of Narvaez to murder Cortes when he should 
return. A ship had just come in from Spain and 
they planned that while Cortes sat at dinner with 
his officers and other soldiers, one of the conspira- 
tors should hand him a letter, sealed as if it had 
come from Spain, and should say it was from his 
father, Martin Cortes; and while Cortes was read- 
ing the letter they should poniard him and all present 
who might resist them. In place of Cortes one of 
the officers was to be the new captain general, and 
our property, horses and all, was to be divided anew. 

But it pleased the Almighty to prevent this hor- 
rible deed. One of the soldiers divulged the whole 
plot. Cortes, secretly informing trusted officers, 
visited the quarters of Villafana, and drew from the 
guilty man's dress a list of all uniting In the treachery. 
The chief conspirator then made full confession; 



290 The Mastering of Mexico 

and regular judges having found him guilty, he was 
hanged before the place where he had lodged. 

Cortes wished to save others dishonored by the 
affair, but he agreed to have a guard of trustworthy, 
valiant soldiers for his person night and day. He 
begged us, in whom he placed confidence, to watch 
over his safety, and although he never showed any 
animosity to those who were in the conspiracy, from 
that time forth he distrusted them. 



CHAPTER XIX 

How Cortes ordered the towns to furnish us arrows and ar- 
row-headsj and, before beginning the siege of Mexico, 
held a muster and published articles of war; and how 
having divided our troops, he ordered the three divisions 
to invest the city and break the aqueduct of Chapultepec; 
how the sloops aided in our daily battles and difficulties 
they met. 

Now that the canal by which they were to pass 
into the lake had been broadened, and the sloops 
had been built and rigged with sails and oars, and 
each sloop fitted with spare oars for case of need, 
Cortes sent to all the allied towns that lay near 
Texcoco, asking that the people furnish in eight days 
eight thousand arrow heads of copper, made after 
Spanish points which were given them as models, 
and eight thousand arrows, also of a certain sort of 
wood, and in form like the Spanish arrows sent as 
patterns. At the end of the time they brought their 
work to our camp — more than fifty thousand arrow- 
heads and as many thousand arrows — and the 
arrow-heads were even better than those we brought 
from Spain. 

Cortes at once commanded Pedro Barba, leader 
of the crossbowmen, to divide arrows and copper 

291 



292 The Mastering of Mexico 

points among the crossbowmen, and to see that they 
fixed the points neatly, and put the feathers on with 
a paste (which sticks better than that from Spain) 
made from some roots. Every crossbowmen also 
was to have two well-twisted cords for his bow, and 
also two nuts, and the whole company were to shoot 
at heaps of earth to see what distance the crossbows 
would carry. The horsemen were also to have their 
horses fresh shod, and to get their lances ready and 
to exercise their horses in such ways as galloping 
and turning quickly. 

Cortes then sent word to the caciques of Tlaxcala 
that we should soon leave Texcoco and begin the 
siege of Mexico, and that he wanted them to send 
twenty thousand warriors from Tlaxcala, Cholula 
and other peoples. But the message was unneces- 
sary. All knew of the meeting and the plan, and 
all were now our brothers in arms. From every 
side most friendly assurances of assistance reached 
us. 

A muster of our troops the second week after 
Easter in the large square of Texcoco made our num- 
ber eighty-four horsemen, six hundred and fifty foot 
soldiers, some with swords and shields and others 
with lances, and one hundred and ninety-four cross- 
bowmen and musketeers. From these, twelve cross- 
bowmen and musketeers were chosen to man each of 
the thirteen sloops. Twelve other men and a cap- 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 293 

tain were to serve as rowers, six on each side of each 
sloop. Therefore each sloop carried twenty-five 
men with cannon and powder. 

In choosing men to row, Cortes could not find 
enough sailors. He therefore asked who went out 
a-fishing every day, and if these fishers came from 
any port in Spain celebrated for its sailors, he com- 
manded them to service of the sloops. Many who 
were men of noble birth protested to Cortes that he 
would not think of insulting them by setting them 
to such work. But under threat of heavy penalties 
he made them go and row, and in this way mustered 
one hundred and fifty capital oars. 

Next Cortes published the articles of war: — First 
of all no one should dare blaspheme our Lord 
Jesus Christ or his blessed mother. Our Lady, or 
the holy apostles, or any other saint. Second: — 
No man was to ill-use our allies, or take anything 
from them, even booty; for we were to bear in mind 
that they joined us at our request. Third: — No 
soldier, day or night, should leave our camp for any 
purpose whatever, even to fetch food from a town. 
Fourth : — Every soldier must wear good armor, well 
quilted, a neck guard, head piece, leggings and shield, 
for defence from javelins, stones and darts of our 
enemy. Fifth : — No man should gamble for horses 
or arms. Lastly : — No soldier should lie down to 
rest unless he were fully armed and wearing sandals 



294 The Mastering of Mexico 

(unless, indeed, he were suffering from wounds or 
illness) ; that we might be prepared to receive the 
enemy at a moment's notice. 

Then, in addition, were the usual articles of war: 
— Death to the sentinel who deserted his post or fell 
asleep on duty; and death to a soldier who went 
from one camp to another without leave from his 
officer, or who deserted his captain in battle. 

Our captain now divided the whole of our troops 
into three divisions. The first division, Alvarado 
commander, was of one hundred and fifty foot, 
armed with swords and shields, thirty horsemen and 
eighteen musketeers and crossbowmen, and eight 
thousand Tlaxcalans; and Cortes chose me to go 
with Alvarado, and we were to take up our position 
in the town of Tacuba. To Olid our captain gave 
the second division of thirty horse, one hundred and 
seventy-five foot and twenty musketeers and cross- 
bowmen, and likewise eight thousand Tlaxcalans, and 
he ordered him to pitch his camp in the town of 
Coyoacan, about eight miles from Tacuba. To 
Sandoval fell the third division of twenty-four horse, 
fourteen crossbowmen and musketeers, one hundred 
and fifty foot armed with shields and swords, and 
another body of eight thousand Tlaxcalans. This 
division was to seize a site near Iztapalapa, and 
attack the town and do it as much damage as pos- 
sible. Cortes himself commanded the sloops. 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 295 

On a Wednesday of May, 1521, we set out from 
Texcoco, turning to the right or north. By vespers 
of the fourth day we had come to Tacuba, Hke other 
towns we had passed, deserted. Here, at Tacuba, 
we quartered ourselves and here our Tlaxcalan 
friends that very afternoon went through every house 
in the town and brought in plenty to eat. So close 
is Tacuba to Mexico that we could plainly hear the 
Mexican warriors crowding the causeways, and the 
lake in their canoes, and yelling at us, derisively 
challenging us to come out and fight. They wished 
to provoke us to sally at night, when they would have 
the advantage. 

Next morning, having commended ourselves to 
God, with the two divisions headed by Alvarado and 
Olid united, we marched about two miles and broke 
the pipes of the aqueduct of Chapultepec — the 
reader recalls that these carried water to Mexico. 
On this errand we fell in with many warriors, for the 
Mexicans understood that we were now beginning 
our operations against the city. We put our oppo- 
nents to flight, however, and carried out our purpose 
of breaking the pipes. From that time on to the 
end of the siege no more water flowed into Mexico 
from Ch'ipultepec. 

As soon as we had destroyed the conduits our 
officers agreed to advance from Tacuba along the 
causeway in endeavor to gain one of the bridges. 



296 The Mastering of Mexico 

We had scarcely reached the causeway when many 
canoes filled with warriors crowded forward, and 
such hosts on foot, also, that we were astounded at 
the very sight. Our crossbowmen and musketeers 
kept up a riddling fire on the canoes, but with little 
effect, for the foe sheltered themselves by boards 
raised alongside each boat. And those of our troops 
on horseback made no gain, for the Mexicans would 
wound their horses, and then, when the horsemen 
charged, they would jump into the lake. Under such 
conditions we fought upwards of an hour. Finally 
when we saw another fleet of canoes advancing to 
fall upon our rear, and also that our friends, the 
Tlaxcalans, were obstructing our passage, we de- 
termined to retreat in good order. 

The very instant the Mexicans saw us turn back 
what distracting yells and howls and whistles they 
gave ! And how they came on ! I declare it is out 
of my power to describe it. In an instant the whole 
causeway was covered with lances, arrows and stones 
hurled at us — to say nothing of quantities that fell 
into the water. But we again reached the land, and 
then gave fervent thanks to God for having saved 
us. Eight of our men had fallen and fifty suffered 
wounds. .Hoots and jeers still reached our ears, 
and that night we dressed our wounds very quietly 
in camp. The next morning Olid withdrew his 
division about six miles off, for he said it was 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 297 

Alvarado's fault that we had advanced so pre- 
maturely. His pride was hurt that we had not done 
well in this attempt upon the causeway. 

As for Sandoval — he had settled at Iztapalapa 
after burning many houses. He and his men were 
engaged with Mexican troops when they saw thick 
smoke rising from a hill near Iztapalapa, and an- 
swering smoke signals from other towns standing 
in the lake. This was the Indians' signal that Cor- 
tes had run out from Texcoco with our thirteen 
sloops and all the Mexican canoes should assemble 
against our fleet. When Cortes saw the canoes 
crowding towards his sloops he was greatly alarmed 
— and with reason, for they were more than a thou- 
sand — and he chose a position where he might watch 
the enemy and yet steer off the sloops in any direc- 
tion he chose. He also ordered that no attack 
should be made till the wind freshened. The Mex- 
icans, thinking we were fear-bound, sped their canoes 
against our boats. But just at that moment a stiff 
breeze sprang up, our rowers pulled with all their 
might, and our whole fleet ran in among the enemy. 
Numbers of the canoes were upset, many Indians 
killed and captured, and the rest made off at a rapid 
rate seeking refuge in places our boats could not 
reach. So it was that in our first combat on the 
lake Cortes gained the victory. Thanks be to 
Godl 



298 The Mastering of Mexico 

Our officers and soldiers now, after several un- 
successful encounters, determined that it was impos- 
sible to fight along the causeways into the city, unless 
the sloops covered us on each side. With the sloops 
keeping off canoes from which the Mexicans attacked 
us from the water, we would, and did have better 
success. We captured several bridges and entrench- 
ments. But the Mexicans had two advantages : 
First, they could relieve their troops from time to 
time and pour in fresh men; second, they could 
shower stones, lances, arrows upon the sloops — I 
can find no word to tell the fact more clearly, their 
missiles fell from housetops thicker than hail. But 
if at times, and after much labor, we succeeded in 
capturing a barricade, or a bridge, the enemy would 
return in the night, make another opening, throw up 
stronger defences and dig deeper pits. These pits, 
at once filling with water, they would cover lightly 
so that in the midst of the battle next day we would 
get caught in them, and with canoes ready at hand 
they could carry us off prisoners. In another artful 
way they kept our sloops from coming to our aid, 
for they drove down stakes, hidden, for their tops 
came below the surface of the water, and often our 
boats stuck fast on the stakes and so became open to 
attacks from the canoes. 

I have already told that our horsemen were of 
little use to us on the causeway. If they charged, or 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 299 

gave chase, some of the Mexicans would throw them- 
selves into the water, and others, standing behind 
breastworks, would receive them with lances made 
very long by swords they had taken In the night of 
our great defeat. With these lances, and arrows 
from canoes, they would wound the horses so that 
the owners became unwilling to risk their valuable 
flesh in fruitless conflict — for a horse at that time 
cost from eight hundred to a thousand dollars. 

Under such conditions we went on fighting from 
morning till night. Then, when darkness came on, 
we would return to camp and treat our hurts with 
bandages steeped In oil. If our wounded had re- 
mained in camp, none of the companies would have 
gone out with more than twenty men at a time. Our 
officers and standard bearers were most exposed and 
oftenest wounded, and to hold aloft our tattered 
colors we had need every day of a fresh bearer. 
The divisions under Cortes, who was with Olid, and 
Sandoval, fared no better than ours, and the Mex- 
icans kept attacking us every blessed day. Well, 
says the reader, with all these hardships they at 
least had enough to eat. Yes, plenty of maize 
cakes, but not food refreshing for the Invalided. 
The confounded vegetables and herbs that the In- 
dians eat kept body and soul together, with the help 
of cherries, while they lasted, and prickly pears. 

When we began to see that in our daily advance 



300 The Mastering of Mexico 

along the causeway, we suffered loss of men, and 
whatever points we forced by day the Mexicans re- 
turned to by night and captured, we agreed to take 
up a position in a small plaza where several idol- 
towers rose together, and where we should have 
some room for our quarters. Here we were miser- 
ably off, and had nothing to protect us from the rain. 
Still we could carry out our object of demolishing 
the buildings, from the tops of which we received 
most injury, and of filling in the canals with the stones 
and woodwork from the houses. Whenever we now 
took entrenchment or bridge we guarded it night and 
day, each company watching by turns; — the first 
watch, which numbered more than forty soldiers 
from even-time until midnight, the second from mid- 
night till a couple of hours before daylight, and the 
third from that time till full daylight. On nights 
when we expected some sudden attack we all kept 
watch together. 

And we had every reason to be on our guard, for 
Guatemoc had formed the idea of falling some day 
or night upon our encampment on the causeway, say- 
ing that when he had defeated us on our causeway, 
he could promptly master Sandoval and Cortes on 
the other two. It was not long before Guatemoc 
carried out his plan and sent great hosts to storm 
us at midnight, and a couple of hours after still 
another host, and with daylight a third, and at one 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 301 

time they came in silence, and at another with hideous 
yells. Terrible it was to see the numberless stones, 
javelins and arrows they let fly. But we maintained 
our ground and sent them back with great loss. 

In this way, in spite of rain and wind and cold, 
up to the ankles in mud, aching from wounds, there 
we watched; and after heavy fighting stayed our 
hunger with a mess of wretched maize cakes, herbs 
and prickly pears — which the officers cheered us by 
saying was a matter of course. And notwithstand- 
ing every effort of ours, the bridges we took from our 
enemy they often re-took from us. 

But you, the reader, ask what benefit did we get 
in destroying the aqueduct of Chapultepec, and then 
the three causeways? Very little, I confess, for the 
Mexicans by light canoes during the night, brought 
in much food and water from the towns near Mexico. 
To cut off these supplies we determined that two 
sloops should cruise by night about the lake and way- 
lay convoys of provisions. By such means we soon 
found we had diminished the enemy's supplies and 
increased our own. But even with all our effort 
many canoes well laden with food and water did get 
into Mexico. And the Mexicans tried many strata- 
gems to rid themselves of our troublesome sloops. 
One time they fitted out thirty large canoes, manned 
with best rowers and most valiant warriors, and con- 
cealed them among the reeds of the lake to decoy 



302 The Mastering of Mexico 

our sloops in pursuit, and then run them foul of 
stakes they had driven in the water. 

But always, and in best possible order, in our daily 
conflict, we were by degrees taking temples, houses, 
bridges, razing everything before us, and filling in 
the openings in the causeways with materials of the 
buildings we had pulled down. At last the city stood 
open to our view. When the towns lying in that 
part of the lake which was of sweet water saw how 
the victories we gained were counting, and that the 
peoples of Chalco, Texcoco and Tlaxcala had united 
with us more closely — these towns apparently 
leagued for defence, for they all sent an embassy to 
Cortes to sue for peace, telling how they had op- 
posed us because Guatemoc had ordered them and 
they had to obey. Their coming of their own will 
rejoiced Cortes uncommonly. With the flattering 
words he knew how to use he pardoned them, al- 
though he added that they deserved severest punish- 
ment for having aided the Mexicans. 

Seeing at length the futility of our present means, 
and the impossibility of our filling in all the gaps in 
the causeway that we took day by day, and the Mex- 
icans endeavored to reopen night by night, and that 
this fighting and filling in and keeping watch was ail 
of it very hard work, Cortes determined to get the 
opinion of ofl^ccrs and soldiers in the camp where he 
was, that is in Olid's. And also he wrote to us in 



< 



We Begin the Siege of Mexico 303 

the camp of Alvarado, and to those with Sandoval. 
The question was whether or no it seemed good to 
us to fall on the city with a sudden rush and force 
our way to the great market place, there to pitch 
our three camps and from our vantage point attack 
our enemy in their streets — thus escaping the heavy 
advance and retreat every day, and not having to 
toil everlastingly in filling in openings and canals. 

Opinions differed — as always happens in such 
cases. Some thought we should not enclose our- 
selves so completely in the heart of a hostile city, 
that we should fight as we were then doing — pulling 
down the houses as we advanced and filling in the 
openings. If we fortified ourselves in the market 
place, we thought the Mexicans would reopen the 
hollows we had filled up and would repossess the 
causeways. In the great square they would assail 
us day and night, and our sloops could not come to 
our aid because of the stakes they would drive, or 
had driven, in the lake. In short, if we made such 
a station, the enemy would then be masters of the 
town, the country and the waters. This opinion we 
took care to draw up in writing. Cortes heard our 
objections. Nevertheless it followed that on the 
riext day we were ordered to push on from all three 
camps till we reached the great market place, and 
the Tlaxcalans, the Texcocans and our new allies of 
the towns of the lake were to aid us with their canoes. 



CHAPTER XX 

Why Cortes suffered defeat on the narrow causeway and 
many other disasters came; and of the abominable bar- 
barities of the Mexicans in sacrificing sixty soldiers they 
had taken; and how Cortes again offered peace, and what 
the papas advised. 

On a Sunday morning, the 30th of June, having 
commended ourselves to the protection of God, we 
set out from camp and advanced, forcing bridges and 
entrenchments. We fought very cheerfully and with 
victory, till Cortes captured a deep opening which 
the Mexicans had taken care to make narrow and 
cover with mud. When the enemy saw that Cortes 
had passed this fatal opening without filling it in, and 
that his soldiers and the allies with him crowded in 
vigorous pursuit, they, pretending to flee, lured our 
captain and his troops still further on. Then (for 
ever does the wheel of fortune turn and great pros- 
perity change to bitter adversity) masses of Mexican 
warriors, some in canoes, rushed suddenly from hid- 
ing places and with incredible fierceness and most 
fearful yells and whistles fell on the ill-fated division. 
Their power was overwhelming. Cortes strove to 
rally his forces and cried, " Stand firm, gentlemen, 

304 



Of Mexican Barbarities 305 

stand! Do you turn your backs?" But his cries 
were in vain. Each sought to save his own life. 
Nothing remained but retreat. 

On this narrow causeway the Mexicans now took 
sixty-six soldiers captive, killed eight horses, wounded 
Cortes in the leg, and after a fight in which it seemed 
for a time they would succeed, they, yelling and 
calling us cowards, finally pursued our soldiers to 
their very camp. There, after a little delay, they 
cast in three heads of our countrymen, crying that 
these were from men with Sandoval and Alvarado 
whom, with all their teules, they had put to death. 

We, under Alvarado, likewise advanced along our 
causeway and with like confidence of victory, when 
many squadrons of Mexicans rushed upon us and 
hurled In front of us five bloody heads of Spaniards 
they had captured from Cortes' division. " So we 
shall kill you," they shouted, " just as we have killed 
Mallnche and Sandoval and all their troops." Say- 
ing this they fell on us so furiously that crossbows 
and muskets availed nothing, and we began to re- 
treat. Our friends, the Tlaxcalans, crediting the 
shout of triumph uttered with the hurling of the five 
bleeding heads, and thinking Mallnche and Sandoval 
and all their teules had been killed, fled off the 
causeway in terror. ' 

As we retreated we could hear the beating of the 
drum which stood near the idols Hultzilopochtli and 



3o6 The Mastering of Mexico 

Tezcatlipoca on top of thie great temple. The sound 
was most melancholy. An instrument of the devil 
it was indeed, for every time its doleful tones startled 
our ears, they were offering the hearts and blood of 
our comrades before their idols. Beset from house- 
top, canoes and causeway, we had not near accom- 
plished our retreat when Guatemoc ordered the great 
horn to be sounded — the signal of the monarch that 
he permitted his troops no choice but victory or 
death. Echoings and re-echoings of this horn roused 
the warriors to terrific fury, and they threw them- 
selves forward till they fairly ran upon our swords. 
If the Almighty had not lent us strength, we must 
have perished; without God's aid we should never 
have reached our quarters. Miserable we were, 
every one of us wounded, and the distress we were 
in was more terrible from our uncertainty as to what 
had happened to Cortes' and Sandoval's divisions. 
The cry of the Mexicans when they threw before us 
the five heads tied together by the hair and beards 
still rang in our ears. 

Let us now turn to Sandoval, who was marching 
victoriously along the causeway his men had cap- 
tured, when the Mexicans, stimulated by the defeat 
of Cortes, turned on him and his forces. And they 
turned so effectively that he had to begin a retreat. 
At this moment the enemy also cast among his men 
the bleeding heads of six of our fellow-soldiers from 



i 



Of Mexican Barbarities 307 

Cortes' division, and shouted that those were the 
heads of Malinche, Alvarado and other officers, and 
what they had done with these they would do with 
Sandoval and his men. But the brave Sandoval was 
not daunted. He told his soldiers to begin an 
orderly retreat under cover of the sloops, musketeers 
and crossbowmen; and thus he came to his quarters. 

But what had happened to Cortes? Sandoval, 
wounded and bandaged with rags, set off to learn. 
On his way warriors of Guatemoc, trying to cut off 
our communication, constantly harassed him, but at 
length he came up to Cortes, and when he saw him 
he cried, " Alas, my captain, how has this disaster 
befallen us? Is this the warfare you have taught? " 
Tears started to the eyes of Cortes as he said, " Oh, 
my son Sandoval, for my sins this has come upon us. 
But I deserve not all the blame. The royal treas- 
urer, Juan de Alderete, did not obey my orders to 
fill in the gap where they defeated us. War the 
royal treasurer does not know; nor how to obey." 
Alderete was standing by when Cortes spoke these 
words, and he quickly threw back the guilt, maintain- 
ing that not he, but Cortes was to blame, for if he 
had ordered him to fill in the opening, he would have 
done so. Alderete also reproached Cortes for not 
ordering the allies off the causeway. 

So the men stood exchanging angry words when 
the two sloops which Cortes had kept by the cause- 



3o8 The Mastering of Mexico 

way came in. They had parried attacks from canoes, 
and after hard fighting, aided by a strong wind and 
the energy of their oars, had broken the stakes be- 
tween which they were jammed, and, every man on 
board wounded, had returned. In all haste Cortes 
now despatched Sandoval to Tacuba to see how mat- 
ters went with our division, sending Lugo with him. 
" Go, my son," said Cortes. " You see I am 
wounded and can not. Rescue the three divisions 
and inspire them with hope. Alvarado and his 
brothers have fought valiantly and defended them- 
selves as gentlemen should, I well know, but I fear 
these hosts of dogs have overwhelmed them. How 
I fared you see." 

Sandoval and Lugo found the Mexicans still 
storming our camp from that side the causeway 
where we had pulled down houses, and now they had 
driven one sloop between stakes and two of the sol- 
diers in it lay dead and others wounded. When 
Sandoval saw me and six others standing waist deep 
in the water, he shouted, " Oh, brothers, put your 
strength to it and keep them from seizing the sloop " ; 
and we then made such a drive that we soon hauled 
the boat to a safe place. Still many companies of 
Mexicans came nearer and struck at all of us, and 
gave Sandoval a blow with a stone in the face, till 
he ordered us to retreat little by little so they might 
not kill our horses. But we were slower than he 



Of Mexican Barbarities 309 

thought we should be. " Are we then to perish 
through your selfishness? " he cried. " For heaven's, 
dear brothers, do fall back." The words were 
hardly out of his mouth before he and his horse 
were again wounded. 

With excessive toil we at last gained our quarters, 
and Sandoval and Lugo stood telling Alvarado what 
had happened to the divisions, when the dismal drum 
of Huitzilopochtli, accompanied by the hellish music 
of shells, horns and things like trumpets, again 
sounded from the top of the temple. We all turned 
towards the lofty platform and there we saw the 
Mexicans carrying our companions by force up the 
steps. When they got them to the space in front 
of the chapel where the cursed idols stood, we saw 
them put plumes on their heads and mercilessly force 
them to dance before the idol, and after they had 
danced we saw them stretch them on their backs on 
stones and with stone knives cut open their breasts, 
tear out the palpitating heart and offer it to the 
idols. Alas! we saw all this! And then we saw 
how they seized the dead body by the legs, and threw 
it down the step, and Indian butchers waiting below 
severed arms, legs and heads from the bodies and 
drew the skin off the faces to tan with the beards on 
and keep for mockery and derision at their festivals. 

While we were gazing at these abominable bar- 
barities, and each saying to the other, " Thank God 



3IO The Mastering of Mexico 

they are not carrying me to the sacrifice to-day!" 
fresh warriors fell suddenly on us, crying, " Look! 
That is the way you shall die. Our gods have 
promised"; while to the Tlaxcalans, throwing them 
roasted legs of their countrymen and arms of our 
soldiers from which the flesh had been torn, they 
shouted, " We are full of the flesh of the teules 
and your brothers. Take what is left on these bones. 
Go on helping the teules and we promise you shall 
be sacrificed with them." 

After this celebration of their victory, Guatemoc 
sent to our Indian allies the heads of those horses 
they had killed, as well as feet and hands and bearded 
skins of our unhappy countrymen, with the message 
that one half of us were dead and he would soon have 
us all, and therefore the people must set aside their 
friendship for us and at once come to Mexico. Ef- 
fects of this message were far-reaching, for about 
this time our allies of Tlaxcala, Texcoco and other 
towns by secret agreement with one another, and 
without a word to Cortes, Alvarado or Sandoval, 
suddenly left us and returned to their homes. A 
mere handful remained, who in our distress at the 
desertion said that their companions, seeing us all 
wounded and many of their own people dead, had 
at length come to believe the promise of the Mex- 
ican gods that we should all be destroyed, and had 
left us through fear. 



Of Mexican Barbarities 311 

Worn out by hardships and by bearing arms with- 
out nourishing food, the troops of all three divisions 
now rested several days and took mature counsel. 
But every day the Mexicans sounded their diabolical 
shell trumpets and yelled and howled, and every 
night fires lighted the platform of the great temple 
as they sacrificed our unfortunate comrades before 
their accursed idols. For ten successive days these 
indescribable barbarities went on — until all their 
prisoners were gone. 

One morning many squadrons of warriors fell on 
us in endeavor to surround us on all sides, and in 
the midst of their fierce attack they were shouting 
such insults as these : — " You are a set of lying 
cowards ! " " You are fit neither to build houses 
nor to plant maize! " " You are a pack of knaves 
and can only plunder towns!" "You have fled 
from your own country, but within eight days not one 
of you will be alive ! " " What villains you are ! 
Even your flesh is as bitter as gall and we can not eat 
it! " It seems they had feasted off the bodies of 
our comrades and the Lord, in his mercy, had turned 
the flesh bitter. 

Among the Indian allies who had remained with 
us was a cacique of uncommon bravery, who finally 
said to our captain, " Mahnche, why do you humble 
yourself every day to renew conflict with the Mex- 
icans? Take my advice. Keep your sloops cruls- 



312 The Mastering of Mexico 

ing round the town and cut off its supplies of water 
and provisions. Within the great city are so many 
thousands of warriors that their stores must soon be 
exhausted. The water they drinlc is from wells 
lately dug and is half salt, or it is from rain that 
falls. What can they do if you cut off their sup- 
plies? War against hunger and thirst is the worst 
war of all." This very advice many of us soldiers 
had already offered, but now, at the suggestion, 
Cortes threw his arms round the cacique and prom- 
ised him the chieftaincy of towns. 

By this time the men who managed our sloops 
stood no longer in fear of the stakes which the Mex- 
icans had driven in the bed of the lake, for they had 
learned that with a stiffish breeze and vigorous row- 
ing the boats were sure to break down the stakes. 
We therefore soon became masters of the lake and 
of many houses standing apart from the city. 
Twelve or thirteen days now passed, the Mexicans 
furiously fighting, our divisions capturing breast- 
works, bridges and openings and never ceasing to 
advance, our launches continually on the watch and 
daring to sail anywhere in the lake. And now, when 
time showed the threat of the Mexicans to destroy 
us within ten days an empty boast, the Texcocans 
despatched warriors to our aid and the Tlaxcalans 
and others followed with many men. 

I am tired of writing about battles, but, as I said, 



Of Mexican Barbarities 313 

I have been able to do no less, for during more than 
eighty days we were fighting all the time. We wel- 
comed the days when it rained in the afternoon, for 
when heavy showers fell the enemy left us unmo- 
lested at night. 

After we had by degrees gained so many ad- 
vantages, had captured most of the bridges, cause- 
ways and entrenchments, had levelled so many houses 
and had fought our way to wells from which the 
Mexicans drew their drinking water, and had de- 
stroyed the springs, then Cortes ordered three Mex- 
ican caciques who were our prisoners to go to 
Guatemoc and offer terms of peace. At first the 
caciques refused, but at length induced by fair words 
and promises, they bore the message to their mon- 
arch, saying that Cortes had great affection for so 
near a relative of his friend, the great Montezuma, 
and he would Indeed be sorely grieved if he were 
forced to destroy the great city of Mexico. He 
grieved, too, to see not only many people of the city 
Itself but also of the country round about every day 
becoming victims of battles; therefore he offered 
peace in the name of his majesty, our king, who 
would pardon all the wrong they had done us. The 
monarch should remember that already, four several 
times, we had made this very offer, and through his 
youth and the bad advice of his papas and accursed 
idols, he had not accepted it, but had preferred war. 



314 The Mastering of Mexico 

Arrived before Guatemoc, with tears and sighs 
the three messengers told what Cortes had said. 
Although the monarch was angry at the presumption 
of the message, he assembled his chiefs and the 
priests of the temple and told them he was inclined 
to make peace and end the war. Already, he said, 
the Mexicans had tried every mode of attack, and 
every kind of defence, and yet when they thought 
us conquered we returned with new vigor. Just 
now, he continued, a great host of allies had joined 
us, every town had declared against Mexico, our 
sloops had broken down the stakes, and his people 
were threatened with want of both food and water. 
Therefore he begged each councillor fearlessly to 
give his opinion; especially the papas should give 
theirs and tell what the gods Huitzilopochtli and 
Tezcatlipoca had said and promised. 

" Great and mighty monarch," the councillors in 
effect replied, " you are our master. You have 
shown great power of mind and deser\^e to be a 
monarch by right. Peace is an excellent thing. But 
reflect. From the moment these teules set foot in 
this country and in this city, our affairs have been 
growing worse. Call to mind the presents the great 
Montezuma gave them, the services he did them; 
what he received in return; what your relative ca- 
ciques received. All the gold and silver of this great 
city have wasted away. Men and women at Tepeaca 



Of Mexican Barbarities 315 

and other places have been marked on the face with 
a red-hot Iron. Consider what the gods have prom- 
ised. Put no trust in Mallnche and his fine words. 
Better to die sword In hand In this city than to see 
ourselves slaves and tortured for gold." 

To this speech the priests added at once that three 
nights in succession they had sacrificed to their gods, 
who had promised victory. " If you will have it," 
answered Guatemoc sorrowfully. " Make the most 
of the maize and other food, and we will die fight- 
ing. Fron; this moment let no man be rash enough 
to ask for peace. Him I will kill with my own 
hand." After this the Mexicans arranged with peo- 
ple of other towns to bring water in canoes by night, 
and they dug wells in Mexico. 

Cortes and all of us held from fighting two days, 
waiting for the answer of Guatemoc, when all of 
a sudden great masses of warriors fell on our camps 
with llonlike ferocity, and as if confident of defeat- 
ing us. While they were making the attack the im- 
pelling horn of Guatemoc sounded, and then, in the 
mad fervor which it excited In them, they fairly ran 
upon the points of our lances and swords. " Why 
does Mallnche go asking for peace?" they cried. 
" Our gods have promised us victory. We have 
plenty of food and water. Not one of you will leave 
here alive. Talk peace no more. Peace parley is 
for women; arms are for men." When they had 



3i6 The Mastering of Mexico 

said this they came at us verily like mad dogs. In 
such wise, for six or seven days in succession, our 
infuriated enemy fought. Great was the slaughter 
among them. And each time we remained master 
of the field. 

To make events intelligible I must turn back and 
recall to the reader that Guatemoc, after the un- 
fortunate day when we lost more than sixty men on 
the causeway, sent the feet and hands and skin of the 
faces of the murdered Spaniards to blazon his vic- 
tory in certain towns and summon the towns' folks 
to help him. In answer to the call warriors put 
themselves in motion and went about ill-using some 
of the peoples friendly to us, plundering their farms 
and carrying off their children to kill for sacrifice. 
When Cortes received intelligence of these deeds he 
ordered Sandoval to the rescue. Much might be 
told of how in this expedition our troops suffered 
severe wounds and lacked all manner of refreshment, 
but nevertheless gained victories and speedily re- 
turned. But I will not detain the reader. 

After this renewed glory of ours, Cortes again 
sent to Guatemoc begging him to make peace — say- 
ing he had not attacked the city, more than two thirds 
of which lay in ruins, or entered it for five days that 
it might not be wholly destroyed; and now that he 
offered sincere friendship the unhappy people had 
scarcely any food. The Mexicans' answer to this 



Of Mexican Barbarities 317 

offer was in promptly sallying out and attacking our 
three camps with still greater fury, crying in their 
language as they struck hand to hand, " What will 
the king of Spain say to that? What will he say 
now? " and showering us with lances, arrows and 
stones till the missiles covered the ground. 

Cortes now carried on the siege with more deter- 
mination, and pushed forward into the city until we 
reached the great market place on which stood seven 
lofty temples. In a small temple on a little plaza 
not far off, we found some beams set upright and on 
them the heads of several of our companions; and 
the hair of the heads was much longer than when 
they were alive, which I certainly should not have 
believed if I had not seen it. Our hearts ached at 
the sight of our comrades' melancholy remains. We 
left them where they were, but twelve days later we 
took them with other Spanish heads offered before 
idols, and buried them in a church we founded, in 
this day called the Church of the Martyrs. 

Several of our companies now made a most valiant 
attempt on the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. To 
take this elevated and strongly fortified building was 
a terrific labor. Priests who lived in great numbers 
in houses near the temple beat our men back, and 
were our particular assailants. They wounded us 
dreadfully, nevertheless we ascended the one hun- 
dred and fourteen steps, and capped our deed of 



3i8 The Mastering of Mexico 

arms by planting our standard on the top. When 
the flames we set to idols and chapel shot up from 
the summit of the building, Cortes was hotly engaged 
with the enemy in another quarter of town, but he 
heartily wished he were with us — they even said 
he was envious of our luck. But he could not come, 
for a good mile lay between him and us, and more- • 
over, fierce attacks to overcome at many bridges and 
water openings. i 

Day after day passed without the Mexicans seem- ' 
ing inclined to sue for peace. We were all of us 
now fortified in the great market place to save the 
trouble of marching every morning from camps two 
miles off. But Cortes would not let us pull down 
any more houses or advance further into the city. 
In hopes of peace he forwarded still another mes- 
sage to Guatemoc begging him to surrender, promis- 
ing that he should be respected and should continue 
to govern all his territor}^ and cities. And Cortes 
sent the monarch such food as he had — maize cakes, 
fowls, prickly pears and cacao. Upon this Guatemoc 
took counsel with his caciques and they all agreed 
the answer should be, " Guatemoc wishes peace and 
at the end of three days will meet Cortes to settle 
terms." Four Mexican chiefs came to our camp 
with this reply. We really believed the promise true, 
and Cortes set forth plenty for them to eat and sup- 
plies to carry to their monarch — who returned the 



Of Mexican Barbarities 319 

civility by sending two splendid mantles, with the as- 
surance he would meet Cortes when things were 
ready. The message was a bhnd, however; Guate- 
moc never intended to come, and had parleyed for 
time in which to repair bridges, deepen canals and 
get fresh supplies of arms. 

For us, when three days had passed, and the mon- 
arch did not appear, we concluded we had been 
fooled. The Mexicans, however, left us no time to 
vex ourselves with thought of the deceit, for they 
attacked us with such fierceness that we could hardly 
keep our ground. 



CHAPTER XXI 

Hoiu our conquest went on and we finally captured 
Guatemoc ; and what famine did for the people of Mexico; 
Cortes^ orders to repair Chapultepec water-pipes and re- 
build houses; discontent about the treasure and its divi- 
sion; and why we went to settle in other provinces. 

It was as if the war had just begun. Cortes now 
ordered us to advance to that neighborhood where 
Guatemoc had taken refuge — who, when he saw 
we were capturing the whole city, sent two chiefs to 
tell Cortes that he wished to speak with him, he 
standing on one bank of a canal, and our captain on 
the other. They agreed upon next morning for 
the interview. Cortes went to the spot, but no 
Guatemoc appeared; instead he sent caciques who 
said their monarch did not come, for he feared we 
would kill him with crossbows or muskets while they 
were talking. On his oath Cortes promised that 
Guatemoc should not be injured. In vain; " for 
what had happened to Montezuma might happen to 
him." While these caciques were talking they drew 
from a bag they had with them some maize cakes, 
cherries and the leg of a fowl, and seating them- 
selves began to eat in a leisurely manner so that 

3-'o 



At Last We Master Mexico 321 

Cortes might think they were not in want of pro- 
visions. To all this our captain answered that 
whether Guatemoc came or not was immaterial to 
him; he himself would soon pay their houses a visit 
to see how much maize and poultry they had. 

For five days we made no attack; but many poor 
Indians, starving for lack of food, came to our camp 
every night. In this was the main reason Cortes 
ordered our attacks stayed — thinking they might 
make peace. But although we entreated them they 
would not. Cortes therefore commanded Sandoval 
with the twelve sloops to penetrate that part of the 
city where Guatemoc with the flower of his army had 
retreated. And at the same time he gave orders 
that our men should not wound or kill any Indians 
unless they should begin the attack — even if they 
should make an onset, our men were merely to de- 
fend themselves and not to do further harm. But 
houses our troops were to level to the ground and 
also to destroy the many defences the Mexicans had 
built on the lake. Cortes then mounted to the top 
of the temple to watch how the work went on. 

Sandoval advanced the sloops with the ardor of 
a true soldier. Some time before this Guatemoc 
had ordered fifty large canoes always to stand 
ready, so that he might escape to the reed thickets 
and from there reach land and hiding in some 
friendly town, if he should find himself hard pressed 



322 The Mastering of Mexico 

in Mexico. So now, when he saw our troops coming 
and getting into the houses in which his caciques 
dwelt, he ordered put on board these canoes the 
gold, jewels and other property they could carry 
away, and he and his family took to flight. When 
Sandoval heard that Guatemoc had fled, he stayed 
the soldiers in their destruction of the houses and 
ordered Garcia Holguin, an intimate of his and 
master of a fast sloop manned by good rowers, to 
follow the monarch and take him, but without 
violence or injury. 

Holguin flew in pursuit. It pleased God that he 
should overtake several canoes, and one that from 
the beauty of its workmanship and awnings and seat 
he knew must be the monarch's, and he signaled the 
boats to stop. But they would not, and so Holguin 
told his men to level crossbows and muskets at them; 
which, when Guatemoc saw he cried in fear, " Do 
not shoot. I am cacique of Mexico. I beg you not 
to touch my wife or my relatives, but carry me at 
once to Malinche." Greatly rejoiced, Holguin with 
much respect embraced the monarch and, spreading 
mats and cloths in the poop of his sloop, took the 
Mexican and his wife and thirty chiefs with him. J 
But he touched nothing whatever in the canoe, but 
brought it in along with the sloop. J 

Cortes, who had stood on the summit of the temple, ' 
as I said, and watched Sandoval's movements, now 



At Last We Master Mexico 323 

heard the good news and straightway ordered a re- 
ception room prepared, as well as could be done with 
mats and cloaks and cushions, and a good meal also 
of such food as he himself had. Soon after San- 
doval and Holguin arrived with the monarch and 
led him between them to our captain — who received 
him with the utmost respect and embraced him af- 
fectionately. But Guatemoc said, " Malinche, I 
have done my duty in defending my city. I can do 
no more. I am a prisoner before you, taken by a 
stronger force. Now draw the dagger you have in 
your belt and kill me " ; and when he had spoken he 
wept and sobbed, and the caciques with him lamented 
loudly. But Cortes, through Donna Marina and 
Aguilar, answered in most kind manner that he es- 
teemed him, the monarch, all the more for his cour- 
age and bravery in defending his city, and it was to 
his honor and not shame ; what he, Cortes, could have 
wished, however, was that he had made peace of his 
own free will, and saved the razing of the city and 
the death of so many Mexicans. But now, since 
this had happened and could not be remedied, he 
should no longer grieve, but compose his spirit and 
remain master of Mexico and its provinces. 

Guatemoc and his caciques thanked Cortes for 
this promise, and then our captain asked after the 
monarch's wife and the other ladies, wives of ca- 
ciques, who had come with Guatemoc. Guatemoc 



324 The Mastering of Mexico 

said he had begged they might stay in the canoes 
until Mahnche's pleasure be known. Cortes at once 
sent for them and had set before them the best of 
every food he had. And now, as it was late and 
beginning to rain, our captain told Sandoval to take 
the monarch and all his family and chiefs to a town 
near by; and he ordered Alvarado and Sandoval to 
withdraw each to his own quarters. 

Thus were Guatemoc and his chiefs captured on 
the 13th of August, about the hour of vespers, in the 
year 1521. Praise and glory be to our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and to Our Lady, his blessed mother ! Amen. 
The night of this day it thundered and lightened un- 
ceasingly, and up to midnight unusually heavy rain 
fell. 

After Guatemoc's capture we soldiers turned so 
deaf we could scarcely hear. We were like those 
standing in a belfry where many bells are ringing 
and then all of a sudden cease. I suggest this as 
comparison, for during the more than eighty days 
we were besieging the city, both night and day, our 
ears suffered great confusion of noises. In one quar- 
ter some of the Mexicans were yelling and piping 
war-whoops to muster their squadrons; in another 
warriors were calling to the canoes to attack the 
sloops, the bridges, the causeways; still further 
one side others were urging bands with exciting tur- 
moil to deepen the openings, drive piles, cut through 



At Last We Master Mexico 325 

dykes, throw up breastworks; still others were crying 
for more javelins and arrows, and again others 
shouting to women rounding stones for the slings — 
while from the chapels and towers of the idols the 
drums and shell trumpets dinned day and night, par- 
ticularly the horrible, mournful sound of the accursed 
drum of Huitzilopochtli, whose tones pierced the 
very soul, never ceased for a moment. On the cap- 
ture of Guatemoc all the uproar ended, and this is 
the reason of my likening our condition to those who 
have been standing in a belfry amid a clangor of 
bells. 

I have read of the destruction of Jerusalem. I 
know not if there were greater carnage there. But 
this I know, that of the great number of warriors 
from the provinces who had crowded into the city 
of Mexico, most of them were slain. Land and lake 
were full of dead bodies, and the place became in- 
tolerable, and in this was the reason why, after we 
captured Guatemoc, the three divisions drew off to 
their former quarters and Cortes himself was ill from 
that which assailed his nostrils. 

The atmosphere at last became so pestiferous that 
Guatemoc asked Cortes to permit all the inhabitants 
and the remainder of the Mexican forces to leave the 
city. Our captain promptly urged them to go, and 
for three days and nights an unending stream of 
men, women and children, so emaciated, dirt)' and 



326 The Mastering of Mexico 

death-lilce that it was pitiful to see them, crowded 
the causeways. As soon as they had got away Cor- 
tes set out to examine the city. We found houses 
full of dead bodies, and a few poor creatures still hav- 
ing life but too weak to stand. Every patch of earth 
in town looked as if it had been ploughed up, for the 
starving people had dug out every root and had 
peeled the bark off the trees to ease their hunger; 
and we found no fresh water. And yet, during all 
this horrible famine, the Mexicans had not eaten of 
the flesh of their own people, only that of ours and 
our Tlaxcalan allies. 

After we had thus subdued this great and popu- 
lous city, and had given thanks to God, and had made 
certain offerings, Cortes ordered a joyous feast to 
celebrate our conquest, and for it procured wine from 
Spain, out of a ship just come to Vera Cruz, and 
pigs brought him from Cuba. To this banquet 
Cortes bade all officers and soldiers whom he es- 
teemed. But when we went, there were neither seats 
nor tables for one third of us, and disorder and ill- 
will prevailed. It would have been better if Cortes 
had not given that banquet, for at it many things 
happened in no wise worthy report. For some 
drank till they did foolish things, and they gambled 
and bragged of all the gold they had got. It would 
have been better if all the gold had been given for 



At Last We Master Mexico 327 

helpful purposes, and with thanks to God for the 
many benefits shown us. 

The first service Cortes asked of Guatemoc was 
that the Mexicans at once repair the water-pipes 
leading from Chapultepec and supplying the city with 
fresh water. The next was that they clean the 
streets and all parts of the town of all remains of the 
dead, repair all the bridges and causeways, rebuild 
the houses and palaces we had pulled down, and after 
two months that they return and dwell in the city — 
Cortes marking out what part they were to live in 
and what part they were to leave for our use. For 
our own work our captain ordered a dock made to 
harbor our sloops, and a fort, also, and if I remem- 
ber rightly he appointed Alvarado to take command 
of this till our king's officer should come from Spain. 

We all agreed that the gold, silver, and jewels left 
in Mexico should be got together. There was little 
seemingly. Report went that four days before we 
captured him Guatemoc had thrown all the treasure 
in the lake. Then, too, the Tlaxcalans, and the rest 
of our Indian auxiliaries in the siege, besides those 
of our own number who went about in the sloops, 
had laid their hands on it. Still officers of the royal 
treasury declared that Guatemoc had hidden the 
greater part, and that Cortes was delighted and he 
would not say where it was concealed, for he would 



328 The Mastering of Mexico 

then be able to get hold of it himself; and that there- 
fore, when these officers proposed to put Guatemoc 
and his cousin and intimate, the cacique of Tacuba, 
to the torture, Cortes was much pained at the bare 
thought of insulting so great a monarch, and that, 
too, for greed of gold. For their part, the stewards 
of Guatemoc alleged, they had no more than our 
king's officers already had in their possession — 
three and eighty thousand dollars, the whole of 
which had been cast into bars. 

But we conquistadores were far from satisfied, and 
said the sum was much below the real amount; and 
some of us told the royal treasurer that Cortes' sole 
reason for not wanting Guatemoc and his officers 
tried by torture was that he might keep the gold him- 
self. Our captain did not wish such a suspicion to 
lie at his door, and at last agreed to the torture. 
Thereupon the officers put Guatemoc to test, burning 
his feet with hot oil. They treated in the same way 
the cacique of Tacuba. What the two confessed 
under torture was that four days before Guatemoc 
was taken, they had thrown their gold, together with 
the cannon and muskets the Mexicans had captured 
on the night of our sorrows, and also when lately 
they had defeated Cortes on the causeway — that all 
they had thrown into the lake. Guatemoc pointed 
out the spot where he had thrown it, and good swim- 
mers searched for the treasure. But they found 



At Last We Master Mexico 329 

nothing. When, however, we went with Guatemoc 
to the houses in which he had hved, and he took us 
to a stone reservoir of water, we fished up a sun of 
gold hke the one Montezuma gave us, and besides 
many jewels and trinkets. 

The cacique of Tacuba also told us that he had 
hidden rich things in gold In some houses twelve 
miles off, and if we would take him there he would 
tell us where he had burled them. So Alvarado and 
six soldiers went, and I was one. But when we came 
to the spot, the cacique said he had made up the story 
so as to be killed, and we were to kill him at once, 
for he had neither gold nor jewels. We went back 
without any treasure and there was no more casting 
of gold bars. It is undoubtedly true that little was 
left In the treasury of Montezuma when it came Into 
the hands of Guatemoc, for Montezuma had taken 
the best for his offerings to us — which he had sent 
to our king. 

I think there was some truth in what Guatemoc 
told about his having thrown gold and other things 
into the lake. By diving I and other soldiers proved 
this a fact. We were always able to bring up some 
piece of small value — which Cortes and the royal 
treasurer promptly demanded of us as gold belong- 
ing to his majesty. They themselves went with good 
divers to this spot, where they found ducks, dogs, 
pendants and small necklaces, a matter of say a 



330 The Mastering of Mexico 

hundred dollars. But the value was nothing to what 
report said the monarch had thrown into the lake. 

Now our officers and men considered thoroughly 
when they saw how hardly worth accepting would be 
each man's share, and therefore Padre de Olmedo, 
Alvarado and others proposed to Cortes that the 
whole was so little, it should be divided among the 
maimed — the lame, the blind or one-eyed, the deaf, 
and those who had pains in their bodies or who had 
been burned by powder — that all the gold should 
be given to such, and the rest of us who were in com- 
fortable health should agree that that was good use 
of it. After considerable thought, they proposed 
this to Cortes, believing they could induce him to add 
to the shares; for the suspicion was rife, as I said, 
that he had hidden away great part of Guatemoc's 
treasure. Cortes answered that he would try and 
satisfy us all. Officers and men then said they would 
like to know how much would be each allotment, and 
it was found that to every horseman eighty dollars, 
to a crossbowman, musketeer and shield-bearer, fifty 
or sixty dollars. None of the men would accept 
these pittances and they began to throw out bitter 
words against Cortes. The royal treasurer excused 
himself by answering he had done the best he could, 
for Cortes had taken for himself a portion equal to 
the king's, and had besides claimed repayment for 
the horses that had died; moreover, many pieces of 



At Last We Master Mexico 331 

gold had not gone into the heap ; and finally over the 
whole matter we should faultfind with Cortes and 
not with him. 

We were all deeply in debt. Some of us owed 
for crossbows, which could only be purchased for 
fifty or sixty dollars, and others for a sword at fifty. 
In the same way there were other cheatings, for all 
charges were exorbitant. A surgeon who called 
himself Maestre Juan charged heavy fees for curing 
some bad wounds. So also a quack who doctored 
us, and was also apothecary and barber. 

Among the soldiers in the three camps, and also 
in the sloops, were friends and partisans of the gov- 
ernor of Cuba, Diego Velasquez, and also soldiers 
of Narvaez, who not only bore Cortes no good will, 
they hated him ; and when these saw he did not give 
them the shares they had calculated for their lot, 
they asked, " How comes it that all the gold belongs 
to him who held it? " 

Our captain was staying in a small town near Mex- 
ico, lodging in a palace, the walls of which had been 
so lately plastered and whitewashed that charcoal or 
ink stood out clear. And on these walls every morn- 
ing satires or lampoons appeared. One day, for in- 
stance, you would find, " The sun, moon, stars, the 
sea and land, follow their fixed courses, and if they 
deviate from their courses, they return to their orig- 
inal elements : Cortes in his ambition and love of 



332 The Mastering of Mexico 

power should take this as a lesson"; "Cortes has 
mastered us in a worse defeat than we mastered 
Mexico, and we should not call ourselves the con- 
querors of New Spain, but the conquered of Her- 
nando Cortes "; "A general's share does not satisfy 
him, but he must have a king's share, not counting 
the profits " ; " How sad is my heart till Cortes gives 
back the gold he has hidden"; "Diego Velasquez 
spent his fortune to discover the north coast, and 
Cortes came and took the gain." There were others 
I can not repeat. 

When of a morning he came from his quarters, 
Cortes did not pass these epigrams without reading 
them, and as the greater part were in handsomely 
turned verse, each sentence, it is evident from the 
homely versions given above, with a pointed mean- 
ing and reproof, and since our captain was a bit of 
a poet himself, he took it upon himself to write an- 
swers praising his deeds. But as days went on, and 
the couplets became more severe, Cortes wrote, " A 
blank wall is the paper of fools." Soon after was 
found added, " and of wise men and truth-tellers." 
Cortes knew who had written It, and he was angry 
and ordered that henceforth no one should dare stain 
the walls with malicious sayings. 

Our captain, at last worn with unceasing fault- 
finding — that he had stolen all for himself — and 



At Last We Master Mexico 333 

weary also of the everlasting begging for loans and 
advance in pay, determined to get rid of the whole 
imbroglio by sending the most marked trouble- 
makers out to form settlements in those provinces 
which he thought eligible for settlement. He ac- 
cordingly chose Sandoval to go to Tustepec, and form 
a colony there, and punish some Mexican garrisons 
for putting to death, about the time of our sor- 
rowful retreat from Mexico, seventy-eight Spanish 
men and women, all of the company of Narvaez, 
who had attempted to form a settlement in a small 
town they called Medellin. Then Sandoval was to 
proceed to Coatzacoalcos to form a colony at its 
very harbor. Two other officers were to go out and 
conquer the province of Panuco, and others to form 
other colonies. 

When the news spread throughout the provinces 
that Mexico had fallen, the governing caciques of 
these provinces could not believe it true, and they 
sent ambassadors to fehcitate Cortes on his victories 
and to announce them as vassals of our king. But 
above all, the envoys were to see if it were really 
true that we had leveled to the ground the great city 
they had feared. Each of these ambassadors 
brought presents of gold, and many even brought 
their little children and showed them the ruins of 
Mexico, and explained it to them, just as we would 



334 The Mastering of Mexico 

point out to our children the spot where Troy stood. 

I now answer a question that many interested read- 
ers have asked me : " Why did the true Conquista- 
dores of the strong city of Mexico and of New 
Spain not settle down in Mexico? Why did they 
go to other provinces?" The reason is that we 
learned from tribute-books of Montezuma from 
what districts the greatest tribute of gold came, 
where there were mines, cacao, garments of cotton 
cloth. We were bent on going to those places from 
which we saw by the books and their accounts the 
people brought these chief tributes. And when we 
found even Sandoval, so notable an officer and such 
a friend of Cortes, starting out from Mexico, and 
when we considered that in the towns of the neigh- 
borhood of Mexico they had neither gold, nor mines, 
nor cotton, merely maize and maguey plantations, 
all the more did we seek to follow his, Sandoval's, 
example. We concluded that the country about the 
metropolis was poor, and so went off to settle in other 
provinces. And greatly were we deceived in our 
expectations. 

This disappointment Cortes had foreseen. I re- 
member when I went to ask him to give me leave to 
go with Sandoval, he said, " On my conscience, 
brother Bernal Diaz del Castillo, you are making a 
great mistake. I should like better your staying Inj 
Mexico with me. But if your choice is to go with' 



At Last We Master Mexico 335 

your friend Sandoval, go. And God be with you. 
If I can I shall promote your welfare, but I am sure 
you will be sorry you left me." 
Soon after we began our march. 



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